Renewed Hardship, Not Hope – Atiku Slams Tinubu’s Three-Year Scorecard

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has criticized President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s three-year administration, arguing that its legacy is best measured by the widespread hunger, poverty, insecurity, and hardship endured by everyday Nigerians.

Atiku, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, made this known through a statement released by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu.

He said Nigerians had seen enough of what he described as political complacency, propaganda, and governance by deception.

Atiku said Tinubu came into office promising renewed hope but had instead delivered hardship, insecurity, poverty, and hopelessness.

“Three years ago, President Tinubu promised renewed hope. What Nigerians have received instead is renewed hardship, renewed insecurity, renewed poverty, and renewed hopelessness,” he said.

He added that food prices had gone beyond the reach of many families, while inflation, unemployment, naira depreciation, and collapsing businesses had worsened hardship across the country.

The former vice president also criticised the administration’s borrowing, saying Nigerians had not seen corresponding improvements in their lives.

He alleged that public reports showed the Federal Government borrowed about ₦11.9tn within nine months but spent only ₦3.1tn on capital projects.

“Nigerians are therefore entitled to ask a simple question: where did the rest of the money go?” he said.

Atiku also raised concerns over major infrastructure projects, alleging that the benefits of government spending appeared to be flowing to politically connected interests.

Atiku said the resurgence of mass abductions remained one of the strongest indictments of the administration’s record.

He referenced the recent abduction of schoolchildren in Borno State and the kidnapping of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.

“What greater evidence of failure can there be than parents sending their children to school only to receive news that they have been abducted?” he asked.

He said the incidents showed that many communities remained unsafe despite government claims of progress.

Atiku accused the administration of relying on public relations instead of addressing the lived realities of Nigerians.

“No amount of propaganda can fill an empty stomach. No amount of spin can erase insecurity,” he said.

He added that the true measure of governance was not what officials said about themselves but what citizens experienced daily.

The former vice president said Nigerians had a constitutional tool to demand change through the ballot.

“The ballot box remains the most powerful weapon in the hands of the people,” he said.

He urged citizens to organise, mobilise, participate and vote, adding that the era of taking Nigerians for granted was ending.

Atiku said the ADC would soon unveil a comprehensive policy blueprint aimed at addressing economic hardship, insecurity, institutional weakness, and governance failure.

He said the document would propose plans for economic recovery, job creation, security reform, fiscal discipline, education revival, healthcare expansion, and restoration of confidence in public institutions.

Atiku pledged that his campaign would be driven by ideas, solutions, and competence rather than insults, slogans, and propaganda.

He said a government under his leadership would assemble experienced professionals and technocrats to rebuild the economy, restore security, strengthen institutions, and create opportunities for young Nigerians.