Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has challenged President Bola Tinubu’s claim that Nigeria is moving into an era of prosperity, saying the country’s economic recovery must be measured by the living conditions of ordinary Nigerians.
Atiku made the remarks in his Independence Day address to Nigerians on Thursday, as the country marked its 66th anniversary.
The former Vice President questioned the government’s emphasis on rising revenue and improving economic indicators, arguing that such figures do not necessarily reflect the realities confronting households across the country.
He said Nigerians were more concerned about their ability to afford food, transportation and other basic necessities than government revenue figures.
“A President may announce a new chapter in a speech. He cannot announce food onto a family’s table or money into a worker’s pocket,” Atiku said.
He also questioned the impact of the government’s economic reforms on workers and families, particularly in relation to the rising cost of living.
Pointing to the prices of petrol and basic food items such as eggs and bread, Atiku said increases in wages had not adequately protected Nigerians from the loss of purchasing power.
His central challenge to the President was: “Bola, where is this prosperity?”
Atiku said the gap between government claims of economic progress and the daily experiences of Nigerians remained wide, arguing that economic growth should translate into improved living standards.
He also criticised the removal of the petrol subsidy, saying the policy had contributed to higher transportation and food costs.
According to him, the government should demonstrate how savings from subsidy removal have been deployed to cushion the impact of the policy on Nigerians.
Atiku proposed a production-based fuel subsidy tied specifically to locally refined petroleum products, arguing that such a measure could reduce the burden on consumers while supporting domestic refining.
“Produce here, refine here, create jobs here and pay less here,” he said.
On insecurity, the ADC candidate said economic hardship had been worsened by attacks, kidnapping, displacement and the inability of some Nigerians to safely conduct their businesses and farming activities.
He said Nigerians deserved a country where farmers could access their farms safely, children could attend school without fear and families could travel without the constant threat of insecurity.
“A government that cannot make life affordable and cannot protect life has failed the two tests that matter most to its people,” Atiku said.
The former Vice President also criticised government spending and borrowing, calling for greater transparency and accountability in the management of public resources.
He questioned the effectiveness of some government interventions, saying public funds should be directed towards programmes that produce measurable improvements in the lives of citizens.
On democracy and governance, Atiku called for stronger protection of political freedoms and respect for the rule of law, stressing the need for an environment where Nigerians could freely participate in the political process.
He said the 2027 elections would provide Nigerians with an opportunity to assess the records, policies and promises of political parties and candidates.
Atiku’s address came against the backdrop of President Tinubu’s Independence Day speech, in which the President defended his administration’s economic reforms and said Nigeria was moving from the period of difficult reforms towards prosperity.
The contrasting messages highlighted the differing assessments of the administration’s economic policies, with Tinubu pointing to reforms and improving economic indicators, while Atiku focused on the cost of living and the purchasing power of ordinary Nigerians.