Nigeria’s opposition coalition has launched a scathing critique of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, accusing it of unprecedented incompetence, economic mismanagement, and disregard for the welfare of ordinary citizens.
The coalition, led by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, vowed to intensify efforts to hold the government accountable and resist any drift toward authoritarianism.
In a strongly worded statement, Atiku described the Tinubu government as “one of the most incompetent, disconnected, and anti-people governments in Nigeria’s democratic history,” noting that no previous administration had inflicted as much suffering on the populace in such a short time.
“Two years into this administration, hardship has deepened while transparency, accountability, and responsible leadership have all but vanished,” he said.
The opposition leader pointed to rising poverty, wasteful public spending, and elite-focused budgeting as hallmarks of the current administration.
Atiku lamented that despite Nigeria’s longstanding status as the “poverty capital of the world,” the country has now also become the African capital of child malnutrition — surpassing even war-torn Sudan, according to the 2024 Global Hunger Index.
He accused the Tinubu government of implementing policies that disproportionately affect the poor while shielding the wealthy. He cited recent examples such as the National Identity Management Commission’s 75% increase in fees — including the introduction of VIP service tiers — and the sharp rise in public university tuition fees without corresponding support for low-income families.
On the economic front, the statement expressed alarm over what it called “reckless borrowing.” According to Atiku, Nigeria’s public debt has surged from N49 trillion in 2023 to N144 trillion in just two years, with further borrowing projected to push the total to N183 trillion.
“This government is mortgaging Nigeria’s future with irresponsible borrowing while offering little in terms of tangible development. Meanwhile, state governments have shown more fiscal restraint, reducing their collective debt stock from N5.86 trillion to N3.97 trillion,” he stated.
The opposition also challenged President Tinubu’s justification for the debt — particularly the claim that borrowing is needed to cushion the effects of fuel subsidy removal. Atiku argued that it was the government’s “reckless and insensitive” handling of subsidy removal that triggered much of the current economic crisis.
Describing the current climate as one in which “the rich get richer and the poor are punished for trying to survive,” Atiku pledged that the opposition would not remain silent.
“We reject any attempt to turn Nigeria into a one-party state where dissent is silenced and power is abused,” he said. “We are building a strong, united opposition coalition — one that will restore accountability, protect democratic freedoms, and fight for economic justice.”
Concluding the statement, Atiku declared: “We are here to rescue Nigeria. And we will not stop until that goal is achieved.”
The remarks come as the Tinubu administration marks its second year in office, amid growing public discontent over inflation, rising cost of living, and widening inequality.
