Tinubu blames opposition for hunger, poverty in Nigeria, Atiku kicks, says president delusional

President Bola Tinubu has accused opposition politicians of inflicting the starvation and poverty Nigerians are experiencing, insisting that his administration is working to handle the issues as he formally launched his 2027 presidential marketing campaign in Kaduna on Saturday.

Mr Tinubu made the remarks on the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential marketing campaign flag-off at Ranchers Bees Stadium (also called Kaduna Township Stadium), forward of the 2027 normal elections.

“I have heard the opposition talking about hunger and poverty. Who caused them? They did! They caused hunger and poverty. We are trying to eliminate them,” the president stated.

He additionally urged his supporters to be cautious of statements from the opposition, significantly criticism of his determination to take away the petrol subsidy, insisting that the nation wouldn’t return to the earlier system.

“Be cautious; watch them. Don’t allow them to misinform you. What is previous is in the previous.

“Fuel subsidy is in our past: no more corruption, no more falsification of invoices, no more lies, no more smuggling of fuel,” Mr Tinubu instructed supporters on the rally.

The president’s remarks come amid persistent public considerations over excessive meals costs, inflation and declining buying energy, points anticipated to function prominently in political debates forward of the 2027 elections.

In a swift response to the president’s remarks, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, described President Tinubu’s declare “as a delusional, shameless attempt to dodge responsibility for the misery his own government has inflicted on Nigerians.”

He stated a president can not gentle the fireplace of hardship along with his personal insurance policies, then blame the neighbours for the smoke.

Tinubu defends petrol subsidy removing

Since assuming workplace in May 2023, the Tinubu administration has carried out main financial reforms, together with the removing of the petrol subsidy and adjustments to the overseas change regime.

The authorities has defended the measures as essential to cut back public expenditure, sort out alleged corruption related to the subsidy system and set up the foundations for sustainable financial progress.

While Mr Tinubu insists that the removing of the subsidy is irreversible, critics proceed to demand proof that the financial savings and extra income generated by the reforms are translating into improved residing circumstances for peculiar Nigerians.

At the rally, the president additionally stated salaries had been being paid on time and praised APC governors for their growth initiatives.

Tinubu thanks Kaduna residents

At the rally, Mr Tinubu thanked the individuals of Kaduna State for supporting him in the 2023 presidential election, saying their backing contributed to his victory.

“You gave me the joy of remembering the victory you gave me to become president. I have returned to thank you once again,” he stated.

He urged Nigerians to provide him one other alternative in 2027, promising to proceed pursuing his agenda of prosperity, growth and nationwide progress.

Tinubu has a protracted historical past of supporting the North – VP Shettima

Vice President Kashim Shettima defended Mr Tinubu’s political relationship with northern Nigeria, saying the president had supported politicians from the area for years, together with those that contested the presidency in earlier elections.

Mr Shettima cited Mr Tinubu’s political relationships with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the late President Muhammadu Buhari to argue that the president had constantly supported northern political figures.

“President Bola Tinubu is one one who has fiercely recognized with the North through the years. It is pertinent to say that when former Vice President Atiku Abubakar was harassed and chased off the PDP along with his tail between his legs, he ran to the Lion of Bourdillon, who gave him political succour, help and a platform to contest for the presidency of this nation in 2007.

“In 2011, Asiwaju supported another northerner, Nuhu Ribadu, and in 2015 and 2019, he supported our late President Muhammadu Buhari,” Mr Shettima stated.

The expression, “Lion of Bourdillon,” refers to Mr Tinubu, whose residence on Bourdillon Road in Lagos has change into related along with his political affect.

Atiku contested the presidency underneath the Action Congress (AC) in 2007 after leaving the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), with help from Mr Tinubu and different social gathering leaders.

In 2011, Mr Ribadu contested the presidency underneath the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), a celebration led by Mr Tinubu. In 2015 and 2019, Mr Tinubu supported Mr Buhari’s presidential bids underneath the APC.

However, Mr Tinubu and Atiku subsequently grew to become political opponents, significantly in the course of the 2019 and 2023 presidential elections, when the previous vice president contested underneath the PDP whereas Mr Tinubu was in the APC.

Mr Shettima’s remarks had been a part of the APC’s effort to spotlight Mr Tinubu’s historical past of political alliances and help for politicians from Northern Nigeria because the social gathering seeks one other presidential time period for him in 2027.

Top authorities officers attend the rally

The occasion attracted senior federal authorities officers, APC governors and social gathering leaders from completely different elements of the nation.

Those in attendance included Vice President Kashim Shettima and Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani, who obtained Mr Tinubu upon his arrival in the state.

Secretary to the Government of the Federation George Akume was additionally among the many senior officers on the occasion. Other attendees included ministers, senators, members of the House of Representatives, APC governors and outstanding social gathering figures.

APC National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda and Abdulaziz Yari, director-general of the social gathering’s presidential marketing campaign council, had been among the many social gathering leaders concerned in preparations for the rally and efforts to mobilise help for Mr Tinubu’s re-election.

The occasion marked the official launch of the APC’s presidential marketing campaign, because the social gathering seeks to consolidate its help base forward of the 2027 normal elections.

Controversy over the price of the rally

Meanwhile, the APC marketing campaign rally passed off amid controversy over its alleged price after a letter circulated on social media claimed that the Kaduna State Government had allotted and launched ₦2.3 trillion to organise the occasion.

The state authorities rejected the allegation, describing the purported letter, stated to have been written by Governor Sani to Mr Yari, the director-general of the Tinubu presidential marketing campaign council, as pretend.

The Kaduna State Commissioner for Information and Culture, Ahmed Maiyaki, stated the governor didn’t write the letter and had not authorised the alleged launch of funds.

The authorities additionally identified that Kaduna State’s 2026 price range stood at ₦985.92 billion, considerably under the ₦2.3 trillion allegedly spent on the rally.

The APC Presidential Campaign Council additionally dismissed the allegation, describing it as fabricated data meant to discredit Mr Tinubu, Governor Sani and different social gathering leaders.

Dele Alake, a spokesperson for the marketing campaign council, accused Atiku and the ADC of being concerned in the circulation of what he described as false data; an allegation the ADC denied.

Atiku says Tinubu’s declare delusional, shameless

Meanwhile, in an announcement by the Director of Strategic Communication, ADC Presidential Campaign Council, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku described President Tinubu’s declare that the opposition created starvation and poverty “as a delusional, shameless attempt to dodge responsibility for the misery his own government has inflicted on Nigerians.”

The former VP stated a president can not gentle the fireplace of hardship along with his personal insurance policies, then blame the neighbours for the smoke.

“Mr President, blaming the opposition for starvation is both delusion or a staggering case of political amnesia. The APC ruled Nigeria for eight years earlier than you took workplace. You have added one other three and a half years. Nigerians know who has been in energy, and hardship didn’t start when the opposition began speaking about it. Stop insulting their intelligence and reply for your file.

“The hardship your administration has brought upon Nigerians is real. You cannot deny it by blaming others.”

Atiku listed a number of the insurance policies of the Tinubu administration that he stated have impoverished Nigerians.

“Which administration eliminated the petrol subsidy and watched the naira fall from about ₦471 to ₦1,329 to the greenback?

“Which administration has presided over an increase in poverty that led the World Bank to estimate that 63 per cent of Nigerians might be under the nationwide poverty line in 2026? Which administration prolonged the 2024 price range into 2025 whereas additionally working a separate 2025 price range?

“Which administration recorded ₦7.13 trillion underneath ‘energy security’ in 2024 and faces questions over ₦11.2 trillion in NNPC pipeline associated spending? Nigerians should know who obtained these sums and what was delivered.

“Which administration should clarify the $12.4 billion hole flagged in Nigeria’s exterior accounts for the primary half of 2026? Which administration paid $22.5 million in ‘other charges’ on the Abu Dhabi financing facility?

“Which administration is accountable for the killings, kidnappings and displacement that proceed to terrorise communities? These are the questions Nigerians are asking whereas your authorities blames the opposition.

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“You can not govern for three years, make life tougher, after which blame others for describing the hardship. You requested who created the starvation. Nigerians are asking what you’ve gotten achieved to finish it.

“The individuals will choose your authorities by the lives they’re residing, not by the justifications you supply at marketing campaign rallies.

The ADC flagbearer stated the choice of the president to fee the unfinished Abuja-Kaduna Expressway from the venue of the APC marketing campaign rally confirmed how far he had been faraway from actuality.

“Your decision to commission the unfinished Abuja to Kaduna Expressway from inside a stadium shows how far removed you are from the daily reality of Nigerians. A road cannot be completed with a speech or a ribbon cutting ceremony,” he stated.

Atiku said that the 16 January election can be a referendum on President Tinubu’s file.

“The 2027 presidential election will be a referendum on your record. Nigerians have felt the cost of your leadership in their homes, markets and communities. Their verdict is already clear: they have rejected your administration,” Mr Shaibu wrote.