Atiku Slams Tinubu, Lists {Economic}, Safety Failures in New 12 months Message
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has launched a scathing critique of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, citing alleged failures within the financial system, insecurity and total governance.
In his New 12 months message launched on Thursday, Atiku accused the Tinubu-led authorities of incompetence, lawlessness and political intimidation.
He described 2025 as one of the crucial “punishing” years in Nigeria’s current historical past, attributing the hardship to what he referred to as {economic} mismanagement and governance devoid of empathy below the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration.
The previous Peoples Democratic Celebration (PDP) presidential candidate mentioned Nigeria endured “{economic} suffocation, political recklessness and coverage chapter” over the previous yr, alleging that the Tinubu administration operated for months and not using a useful finances, relying as a substitute on propaganda and extreme borrowing.
Now a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku pointed to the controversy surrounding a disputed tax regulation as proof of what he described as deepening decay inside the authorities, declaring that “a authorities that begins reform with forgery can not finish with prosperity.”
He additional accused the ruling celebration of intentionally weakening Nigeria’s democratic establishments, alleging makes an attempt to impose a de facto one-party state by means of intimidation and state seize.
Atiku additionally highlighted worsening insecurity in 2025, with kidnappings, abductions and violent crimes spreading throughout the nation, whereas rising unemployment, labour unrest and the collapse of small companies additional deepened residents’ struggling.
“Regardless of these failures, compounded by the appointment of undistinguished and unfit people to symbolize Nigeria overseas, the nation survived, not due to authorities competence, however due to the resilience of its individuals,” he mentioned.
Urging Nigerians to stay resolute within the face of hardship, Atiku described the tackle as “one of the crucial painful New 12 months messages I’ve ever written,” noting that tens of millions are grappling with despair because of what he termed the “callous and soulless insurance policies” of the Tinubu-led APC authorities.
He condemned repeated calls on residents to make sacrifices as “merciless,” arguing that leaders who reside in consolation whereas the lots endure lack ethical authority.
“Management with out shared ache just isn’t management; it’s exploitation,” he acknowledged.
Atiku additionally criticised what he described as selective enforcement of anti-corruption legal guidelines, accusing the federal government of weaponising state establishments in opposition to political opponents.
“The so-called anti-corruption campaign of this authorities is a façade — selective, vindictive and politically motivated. It has turn into a device for persecuting opposition figures reasonably than cleaning the system,” he mentioned.
He added that preventing corruption have to be neutral, warning that when businesses such because the {Economic} and {Financial} Crimes Fee (EFCC) are used in opposition to opponents whereas allies are shielded, justice is undermined.
Atiku additional warned {that a} authorities able to tampering with legal guidelines couldn’t be trusted to conduct free and honest elections in 2027.
He referred to as on Nigerians to start mobilisation forward of the polls, urging residents to vote and defend their votes.
“Allow us to vote out starvation, insecurity, unemployment, dishonesty, corruption, abductions, lies and propaganda. Nigeria deserves higher. Nigerians deserve dignity.
“2026 is the yr to until the soil. 2027 is the yr of harvest. It’s too late to show again. Allow us to rise, organise and reclaim our nation,” he added.