Atiku says 2025 was one among Nigeria’s ‘most punishing’ years
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has described 2025 as one of the vital tough and punishing years in Nigeria’s latest historical past.
He blamed this on {economic} hardship, worsening insecurity, and what he referred to as governance with out empathy beneath the Bola Tinubu-led administration.
Atiku said this in his New Yr message to Nigerians because the nation ushers in 2026.
Based on him, whereas the 12 months has ended, thousands and thousands of Nigerians stay burdened by starvation, unemployment, enterprise closures, and insecurity, warning that these challenges replicate deep coverage and governance failures.
The previous Vice President, who was the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Social gathering (PDP) within the 2023 elections, mentioned Nigerians endured the 12 months not due to authorities competence, however due to their resilience.
Atiku accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration of {economic} mismanagement, political recklessness, and coverage inconsistency all through 2025.
“For thousands and thousands of long-suffering Nigerians, the one comfort is that 2025, one of the vital punishing years in our latest historical past, has come to an finish.
“It was a 12 months outlined by {economic} suffocation, political recklessness, and governance with out empathy beneath the All Progressives Congress administration,” he mentioned.
He alleged that the Tinubu administration ruled for months with out a practical funds, relied closely on borrowing, and masked {economic} misery with propaganda, pushing the nation towards what he described because the brink of {economic} collapse.
Atiku pointed to the controversy surrounding the alleged alteration of Nigeria’s tax legal guidelines as emblematic of what he described because the decay in governance.
He described the episode as a “cast tax regulation” branded as reform, criticising the President’s refusal to permit due legislative and authorized processes to handle the matter.
“A authorities that begins reform with forgery can’t finish with prosperity,” Atiku mentioned, warning that disregard for due course of undermines {economic} confidence and democratic stability.
The tax regulation controversy has sparked debates inside the Nationwide Meeting and amongst coverage consultants, with considerations raised about discrepancies between payments handed by lawmakers and the variations later gazetted.
Atiku mentioned insecurity worsened considerably in 2025, with kidnappings, abductions, and violent crimes affecting communities throughout the nation.
Regardless of his criticisms, Atiku urged Nigerians to not give up to despair in 2026.
He referred to as on residents to reject divisions alongside ethnic or spiritual traces, arguing that such divisions solely profit these in energy whereas abnormal Nigerians endure.
Based on him, democracy nonetheless gives Nigerians the chance to alter a failing authorities peacefully by the poll field.
“These hardships should turn out to be the gasoline for nationwide awakening,” he mentioned.
Atiku’s New Yr message contrasts with President Bola Tinubu’s message, the place he highlighted the federal government’s achievements in 2025.
Based on Tinubu’s New Yr message, Nigeria closed 2025 on a robust be aware, recording sturdy quarterly GDP progress, with annualised progress anticipated to exceed 4 per cent.
“Regardless of the insurance policies to struggle inflation, Nigeria recorded a strong GDP progress every quarter. We maintained commerce surpluses and achieved better trade charge stability,” he mentioned.
Tinubu additionally highlighted the efficiency of the capital market, noting that the Nigerian Inventory Change posted a 48.12 per cent acquire in 2025, extending a bullish run that started within the second half of 2023.