Former Vice President and opposition leader Atiku Abubakar has accused President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration of threatening Nigeria’s democracy and silencing dissent, warning that the country risks becoming a 'one-party state' where power is abused and accountability is eroded.
In a statement on Wednesday in Abuja, Atiku highlighted what he described as the Tinubu government’s anti-democratic tendencies, economic mismanagement and disregard for the welfare of ordinary Nigerians.
He emphasized that the administration’s actions have deepened poverty, worsened inequality, and undermined transparency.
Atiku stated, “We reject any attempt to turn Nigeria into a one-party state where dissent is silenced and power is abused.
“We are building a strong, united opposition coalition, one that will challenge the excesses of this administration, restore accountability, and return government to the people.”
Atiku’s statement comes as Nigeria marks the mid-term of Tinubu’s presidency, a period that has seen widespread criticism of the government’s policies.
He accused the administration of prioritizing the interests of the elite while imposing hardships on the poor, citing examples such as the recent 75% hike in National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) fees and the sharp increase in public university tuition.
Atiku said, “Policy after policy under this administration has targeted the poor while providing relief and advantage to the rich.
“From healthcare to education to identity management and basic public services, Nigerians are now faced with class-based systems where the wealthy enjoy VIP treatment, and the rest are left behind.”
The former vice president also criticized the administration’s handling of the economy, noting that Nigeria’s public debt has surged from N49 trillion in 2023 to N144 trillion in just two years, a 150% increase.
He described the government’s justification for borrowing, including funding the 2025 budget and mitigating the impact of fuel subsidy removal, as 'weak and dishonest.'
“President Tinubu’s justification, that new borrowing is needed to fund the 2025 budget and soften the impact of fuel subsidy removal, is both weak and dishonest.
“It was the reckless and insensitive way his government removed the subsidy that created much of today’s economic hardship in the first place,” Atiku stated.
The ex-Vice President further pointed to Nigeria’s alarming position on the Global Hunger Index 2024, where the country ranks 18th globally and has become the capital of malnourished children in Africa, surpassing even war-torn Sudan.
He accused the government of creating a 'class-based system' where the wealthy enjoy VIP treatment while the poor struggle to access basic services like healthcare and education.
“Today, Nigeria is a nation where the rich get richer, and the poor are punished for trying to survive. This reality cannot and will not be ignored,” Atiku lamented
The opposition leader also contrasted the federal government’s fiscal indiscipline with state governments, which he said have reduced their debt levels from N5.86 trillion to N3.97 trillion during the same period.
Atiku vowed to build a strong, united opposition coalition to challenge the Tinubu administration’s excesses, restore accountability, and return governance to the people.
“We are here to rescue Nigeria, and we will not stop until that goal is achieved,” he lamented
Atiku urged the protection of the right of Nigerians to freely choose their leaders and a warning against the consolidation of authoritarian rule.
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