ATIKU FAULTS GOVERNMENT’S ECONOMIC CLAIMS, SEEKS IMMEDIATE RELIEF

Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar has challenged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s declaration that Nigeria has entered an “age of prosperity”, arguing that millions of Nigerians continue to struggle with the cost of basic necessities.

Atiku spoke on Thursday, October 1, in a state-of-the-nation broadcast issued as Nigeria marked its 66th Independence Anniversary.

His remarks came hours after Tinubu’s Independence Day address in which the President said the difficult phase of his economic reforms had passed and that Nigeria was entering what he called an “age of prosperity”.

ValidViewNetwork reports that Atiku’s response represents the opposition politician’s assessment of the economy and directly contrasts with Tinubu’s presentation of the government’s reform programme.

FOOD, TRANSPORT, HEALTHCARE AND EDUCATION

Atiku said the reality facing many Nigerians remained defined by the rising cost of living, insecurity and difficulty meeting basic needs.

He faulted the government’s economic claims and argued that Nigerians needed tangible improvements rather than assurances about future prosperity.

The former vice president said the government should focus on reducing the cost of living and improving access to essential services.

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He also criticised the state of security and the conditions affecting Nigerians in their daily lives.

TINUBU’S CASE FOR PROSPERITY

In his Independence Day address, Tinubu acknowledged that millions of Nigerians still struggle to afford food, school fees, medical bills and transportation.

However, the President argued that those difficulties predated his administration and reflected decades of low productivity, inadequate infrastructure, limited opportunity and institutional weaknesses.

Tinubu said his administration had laid the foundation for a stronger economy after taking difficult reform decisions. He said programmes such as the National Social Register, Nigerian Education Loan Fund and CREDICORP were intended to support vulnerable Nigerians while broader reforms create the conditions for long-term growth.

He also declared: “Our objective is not to manage poverty more efficiently. We will defeat it.”

ATIKU CALLS FOR RELIEF

Atiku’s response focused on the immediate experience of Nigerians rather than the government’s longer-term reform argument.

He called for measures that would reduce pressure on households and improve security, while urging citizens to remain engaged in the democratic process ahead of 2027.

The ADC presidential candidate also appealed to voters to participate in the election and protect their votes.

ValidViewNetwork reports that the disagreement between Tinubu and Atiku reflects two competing assessments of Nigeria’s economic situation: the President argues that reforms have corrected the country’s economic direction, while Atiku maintains that the benefits have yet to sufficiently reach millions of citizens.”

The competing claims will remain part of the political debate as parties and candidates prepare for the 2027 elections, with voters ultimately having the opportunity to assess the records, proposals and arguments presented by the various political actors.