The Presidency and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar are once again at odds, this time over the state of the nation’s economy and the growing fear of hunger-induced unrest.
Atiku, in a strongly worded statement on Monday, warned that worsening food insecurity and poverty could plunge Nigeria into chaos, drawing parallels with historical uprisings such as the French Revolution, the Russian Revolution, and the Arab Spring. He argued that despite repeated assurances of reforms, the Tinubu administration has yet to present tangible relief for ordinary Nigerians.
But the Presidency swiftly rejected his claims, insisting that Atiku’s warnings are exaggerated and disconnected from realities on the ground.
In a statement by Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the government described Atiku’s concerns as “doomsday rhetoric” aimed at undermining ongoing reforms.
Onanuga pointed to recent data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), which, according to him, show signs of economic recovery. He said headline inflation has declined for five consecutive months, non-oil exports now account for nearly half of Nigeria’s trade balance, and foreign reserves have climbed from $32 billion to almost $42 billion under Tinubu’s watch.
“States are now paying salaries and gratuities without delays while still funding capital and social projects,” Onanuga stressed, calling the achievements “unprecedented in recent history.”
The Presidency further argued that the current economic difficulties stem from past mismanagement during the PDP era, when Atiku was Vice President.
It maintained that Tinubu’s bold reforms — including clearing over $7 billion in arrears and stabilizing foreign exchange flows — are gradually repositioning Nigeria for sustainable growth.
Atiku, however, remains unconvinced. He accused the APC government of ignoring the harsh realities faced by citizens.
“The masses of Nigerians are wallowing in misery and poverty under the Tinubu administration,” he said, warning that food insecurity and hardship continue to breed crime, insecurity, and social discontent.
Citing the ENDSARS protests of 2020 as a homegrown example of frustration boiling over, Atiku urged the government to embrace reforms with a human face, placing citizens’ welfare at the center.
