President Bola Tinubu has blamed previous administrations for Nigeria’s hunger and poverty, drawing a sharp response from opposition leaders who say his government must answer for the economic hardship Nigerians face.
Tinubu spoke on Saturday at the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign flag-off at Ranchers Bees Stadium in Kaduna, where he sought a second term ahead of the 2027 general election.
“I hear my opponents talking about hunger. Who created it? They did. They created hunger and poverty. We are trying to eradicate them,” the President said.
He cited regular salary payments and the activities of state governors as signs of progress, promising prosperity, economic recovery and new opportunities if re-elected. He also called on voters to support APC candidates across the ballot.
However, his attempt to place responsibility for the hardship on past administrations immediately opened a fresh political confrontation over who should answer for Nigerians’ worsening living conditions.
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Atiku challenges Tinubu’s account
Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, dismissed Tinubu’s remarks as an attempt to evade responsibility for his administration’s record.
In a statement issued by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication for the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, Atiku noted that the APC had governed Nigeria for eight years before Tinubu assumed office.
“Nigerians know who has been in power, and hardship did not begin when the opposition started talking about it,” the statement said.
Atiku also criticised the President’s decision to commission the unfinished Abuja-Kaduna Expressway from the stadium, insisting that a speech or ceremony could not substitute for a completed road.
The exchange highlights a central question likely to shape the 2027 campaign: whether Nigerians will judge the administration by its stated reforms and promises or by the cost of living, household purchasing power and visible improvements in public services.
Kaduna rally sparks turnout dispute
The ADC-PCC also described the rally as disappointing, alleging that the APC relied on paid attendees and recycled campaign promises. Its Director of Media and Publicity, Kola Ologbondiyan, claimed some participants received between ₦50,000 and ₦100,000 to attend.
The claims were not independently verified in the report, and the APC’s response to the specific allegations was not provided.
Meanwhile, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde’s presidential campaign organisation, the Makinde-Daura Presidential Campaign Organisation, labelled the event “political theatre”.
It questioned the administration’s record on insecurity, economic welfare and northern representation, alleging that at least 20,000 people had been killed in northern Nigeria since 2023. The organisation did not provide independently verified evidence for that figure in the statement cited.
Shettima and Sani defend Tinubu
Vice-President Kashim Shettima defended Tinubu’s political record in the North, citing his past support for Atiku’s presidential ambition in 2007, Nuhu Ribadu in 2011 and the late President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015 and 2019.
Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani, meanwhile, challenged opposition candidates to demonstrate their records in office. He said the 123-kilometre Kaduna-Birnin Gwari Road was being reconstructed after years of neglect, adding that the government had released ₦117 billion to the contractor.
The claim offers a concrete test of the campaign’s competing narratives: voters can assess the project’s progress, completion timeline and eventual impact on travel and security.
Tinubu’s Kaduna launch has therefore moved beyond a routine campaign appearance. It has exposed the battle lines over economic accountability, infrastructure delivery and security, issues that could carry significant weight when Nigerians choose their next president in 2027.
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