Coalition’ll challenge excesses, rescue Nigeria – Atiku
President, transformative, courageous- Akpabio
Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, leader of the opposition coalition against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has described
the administration which celebrated two years in office yesterday as “one where the rich get richer while the poor get punished for trying to survive.”
In a statement he personally signed with his trademark initials AA, to mark Tinubu’s second year in office, Atiku ripped into the administration, declaring that, “No previous administration has inflicted this level of hardship on the masses while showing such disregard for transparency, accountability, and responsible leadership.”
But in his own statement to assess Tinubu at midterm, Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, took the opposite tack, and described the President as a far-sighted, transformative, and courageous leader.
Akpabio, in the statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Eseme Eyiboh, said the President has placed Nigeria on a solid developmental pedestal through his Renewed Hope Agenda.
He said the President, through bold initiatives and reforms, particularly in the areas of economic and fiscal policies, demonstrates his undying dedication to transforming Nigeria to its deserving greatness.
“Your drive and obsession with giving every section of the country a sense of belonging has clearly been demonstrated in the creation of development commissions in all the geopolitical zones. This is unprecedented in the annals of our nationhood.
“The level of infrastructural development as enunciated in the monumental ongoing projects across the country such as the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, the Lagos-Maiduguri are testaments to your leadership signature and development-conscious pedigree.
“The economic reforms are gradually turning Nigeria into the preferred business destination of local and foreign investors, with the Naira making a strong rebound coupled with your ambitious and purposeful fiscal policies.
“Mr. President, your achievements in the area of security are wholesome and commendable. In the last two years, the Nigerian Armed Forces have taken the war against insurgency to the doorstep of bandits, terrorists, and other criminal elements, and the results are obvious and positive.
“No wonder you have received torrents of endorsements to return to office in 2027 just two years into your first tenure. These endorsements are certainly not a fluke but founded on verifiable performance in good governance and delivery on campaign promises and undiluted national consciousness.”
Assuring Tinubu of continued support, Akpabio said: “The Senate remains committed to collaborating with the Executive arm of government under your able and dynamic leadership to ensure the success of these initiatives. We recognize the challenges that lie ahead and pledge to work together to address them.”
But Atiku is having none of that. He insisted that he and like-minded politicians have put together a coalition to show the President the door in 2027. According to him, “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.
“We will protect the right of every Nigerian to freely choose their leaders, and we will continue to fight for economic justice, political freedom, and national progress.
We are here to rescue Nigeria. And we will not stop until that goal is achieved,” he wrote.
His words: “This government has not only deepened poverty across the country, but it has also set new records in wasteful public spending. At a time when millions of Nigerians are struggling to survive, government officials are living in excess and approving budgets that benefit the elite at the expense of the common man. It is sad that apart from being the poverty capital of the world, Nigeria has under this administration emerged in the unenviable position of the capital of the most malnourished children in Africa, having beaten Sudan, a nation that is at war. According to the Global Hunger Index 2024, our country is one of the most affected by hunger and malnutrition, occupying the 18th position.
“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.
“Just two weeks ago, the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) hiked its fees by 75%, introducing VIP protocols for services that should be a basic right of citizenship. In education, public university fees have been raised far beyond the reach of poor families, with no adequate support mechanisms in place.
“Even more troubling is the scale of borrowing under this government. When President Tinubu assumed office in 2023, Nigeria’s total public debt stood at approximately N49 trillion. In just two years, that figure has skyrocketed to N144 trillion — a 150% increase — with more foreign loans now being requested, which could push the debt to N183 trillion.
“While the federal government racks up debt, state governments have shown more discipline, reducing their debt levels from N5.86 trillion to N3.97 trillion. The implication is clear: the federal government, under Tinubu, is the primary driver of Nigeria’s current debt crisis.
“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.
“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. As opposition leaders and partners committed to the future of Nigeria, we will not stand by and watch democracy be reduced to a tool for elite control. 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. We will protect the right of every Nigerian to freely choose their leaders, and we will continue to fight for economic justice, political freedom, and national progress,” Atiku concluded.