As the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu marks two years in office, former Vice President and 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has issued a scathing critique of the government’s performance, accusing it of gross incompetence, rising public debt, and deepening hardship for Nigerians.
In a series of strongly worded posts on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday, Atiku described the Tinubu administration as “one of the most incompetent, disconnected, and anti-people governments in Nigeria’s democratic history.”
“No previous administration has inflicted this level of hardship on the masses while showing such disregard for transparency, accountability, and responsible leadership,” he wrote.
The former vice president lambasted the government’s economic policies, alleging they have exacerbated poverty, widened inequality, and driven the nation into a dangerous debt spiral. He cited figures showing that Nigeria’s public debt has surged from ₦49 trillion in 2023 to ₦144 trillion in just two years — a 150% increase — with projections suggesting it could reach ₦183 trillion if planned foreign borrowings materialize.
“This borrowing binge is not for infrastructure or development but to service existing debts,” Atiku said. “What we’re seeing is a classic Ponzi scheme — borrowing to pay debt, and then borrowing again to pay interest.”
He also highlighted the government’s alleged failures in social services, pointing to increased university tuition, higher identity registration fees, and a rising Global Hunger Index that places Nigeria 18th globally for hunger and malnutrition.
“Nigeria has now overtaken war-torn Sudan as the African country with the highest number of malnourished children,” Atiku stated, referencing data from the 2024 Global Hunger Index.
Atiku accused the Tinubu-led administration of favoring the elite while placing the economic burden on ordinary Nigerians.
“Policy after policy under this administration targets the poor while protecting the rich,” he said. “We’re witnessing economic sabotage in plain sight.”
Beyond the economy, Atiku also voiced concerns about democratic backsliding and alleged moves toward a one-party state.
“We reject any attempt to reduce Nigeria into a one-party state where dissent is silenced and power is abused,” he said, calling for civil society, the media, and international partners to take notice.
He affirmed that the opposition will not remain idle and announced ongoing efforts to build a united front to challenge what he described as the administration’s excesses and undemocratic tendencies.
“Nigeria must not be sold into debt slavery. We demand that this reckless borrowing be halted immediately,” Atiku declared.
