Atiku Abubakar Slams Tinubu Administration, Defends Political Engagements
posted 26th April 2025
Atiku Abubakar Slams Tinubu Administration, Defends Political Engagements
Abuja, Nigeria – 26 April 2025
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has issued a scathing critique of the Tinubu administration, accusing it of plunging Nigeria into economic turmoil and resorting to divisive tactics to mask its failures. In a statement addressing recent political shifts, including the defection of some Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Atiku called for unity among Nigerians to confront what he described as an "incompetent" government.
Atiku revealed he had been inundated with inquiries from concerned Nigerians seeking clarity on his stance amid the defections. "Let me be unequivocal: freedom of association and expression are not optional in a democracy — they are fundamental rights," he declared. He emphasised that democracy rests on the pillars of the people, the rule of law, credible elections, and accountability, warning that undermining these risks the collapse of democratic institutions.
Dismissing criticism of his recent visit to former President Muhammadu Buhari, Atiku questioned the selective outrage of his detractors. "Some have resorted to insults because I visited former President Muhammadu Buhari," he said. "Let’s not rewrite history: Buhari is not only a former leader but a significant statesman in the Nigerian political landscape." He drew parallels with the 2013 opposition merger, when leaders consulted widely with figures like former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Ibrahim Babangida, asking why his visit to Buhari in Kaduna was now deemed "sacrilegious."
Atiku also highlighted perceived hypocrisy within political circles. "When PDP leaders are busy sipping tea and brokering power deals with President Tinubu, it’s called strategic alliance. But the moment I greet Peter Obi, el-Rufai, or visit Buhari, it becomes a national emergency," he remarked. "Hypocrisy and the politics of selective outrage have never been this fashionable!"
Shifting focus to the broader political landscape, Atiku argued that the real struggle is not between political parties but between Nigerians and an administration he accused of causing widespread suffering. "The economy is in freefall. Inflation is choking the masses. Jobs are vanishing. Youth restiveness is surging to terrifying levels," he said, adding that Nigerians are "angry, and rightfully so."
He urged citizens to reject attempts to sow division through ethnic, regional, or religious sentiments, describing these as "tools of manipulation" used by those with "nothing else to offer." Atiku branded the Tinubu administration as one without achievements or a credible record, accusing it of relying on "chaos and division" as a last resort. "An incompetent captain does not only wreck his ship; he endangers the lives of everyone on board," he warned.
Calling for collective action, Atiku stressed that the fight is for Nigeria’s survival. "The real enemy is not one another — it is the Tinubu administration’s abysmal failure," he concluded, urging Nigerians to remain focused on the challenges ahead.
