Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, on Wednesday launched a fresh attack on President Bola Tinubu, urging him to focus on solving Nigeria’s worsening economic and security problems instead of engaging in political battles ahead of the 2027 general election.
Atiku’s criticism came a day after President Tinubu declared that he was prepared to “wrestle” his political opponents “to the finishing point” during the next presidential election.
The former Vice President said the President should concentrate on addressing hunger, inflation, unemployment, insecurity and the country’s economic challenges rather than making combative political statements.
In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku described Tinubu as “a drowning man” who was trying to shift Nigerians’ attention away from what he called the failures of his administration.
“Mr President, you are a drowning man. Wrestle with your failures, not your opponents,” Atiku declared.
The former Vice President argued that the President’s comments came at the wrong time because they were made while receiving members of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria in Abuja.
According to him, the bishops had called for credible, transparent and peaceful elections, and the President should have responded with words that would reassure Nigerians instead of making remarks about defeating political opponents.
Atiku said the occasion demanded calm leadership and statesmanship, adding that Tinubu’s response reflected what he described as the aloofness that had characterised the administration.
He said rather than preparing for political contests, the President should direct his energy toward improving the lives of ordinary Nigerians who are struggling with rising living costs.
According to Atiku, millions of Nigerians can no longer afford regular meals because food prices have continued to rise sharply.
He also pointed to the country’s worsening security situation, saying many farming communities have become unsafe due to attacks by bandits, terrorists and kidnappers, while highways remain dangerous for travellers.
“The President should wrestle with the millions of Nigerians who now skip meals because food has become a luxury.
“He should wrestle with the insecurity that has turned farming communities into graveyards and highways into hunting grounds for criminals.
“He should wrestle with the unemployment that has robbed an entire generation of hope. He should wrestle with an economy suffocating under policy inconsistency, reckless borrowing and dwindling investor confidence,” Atiku said.
Nigeria has continued to battle high inflation, rising food prices and a weak naira since the Tinubu administration introduced major economic reforms shortly after assuming office in May 2023.
Among the reforms were the removal of petrol subsidy and the unification of the foreign exchange market. While the Federal Government has defended the policies as necessary to rebuild the economy, many Nigerians have complained that they have led to a sharp increase in the cost of living.
At the same time, insecurity has remained a major challenge in several parts of the country, with attacks by terrorists, bandits and kidnappers continuing in parts of the North-East, North-West and North-Central.
Against this backdrop, Atiku said Nigerians were no longer interested in political drama but wanted practical solutions to their daily challenges.
He argued that governments with poor performance often resort to political rhetoric to distract citizens from governance.
“These are the words of a drowning man. A government that has little to celebrate inevitably seeks refuge in chest-thumping.
“But Nigerians are no longer interested in political performances. They are interested in performance in government.
“Empty slogans cannot fill empty stomachs. Boastful declarations cannot lower food prices. Threats against political opponents cannot restore the value of the naira,” he stated.
According to the former Vice President, the President’s greatest political opponent is not the opposition but the record of his own administration.
He said unpaid workers, struggling businesses, unemployed graduates, victims of insecurity and families battling hunger all reflected the challenges facing the country.
Atiku also reminded the President that elections in a democracy are won through public support and good governance rather than political bravado.
He said Nigerians would decide the outcome of the 2027 presidential election through their votes.
“Democracy is a marketplace of ideas and accountability. Governments earn another term through competence, compassion and measurable results, not through combative rhetoric.
“In 2027, Nigerians will not be stepping into a wrestling arena. They will be stepping into polling units to deliver a constitutional verdict,” he said.
He added that Nigerians were looking for leadership capable of solving the country’s problems rather than political confrontation.
“The Nigerian people are not looking for a wrestler. They are looking for a leader. History will not remember who shouted the loudest. It will remember who governed the best,” Atiku added.
The exchange between the two political leaders has further heightened political activities ahead of the 2027 general election, even as political parties continue consultations and realignments.
Tinubu had made the wrestling comment during an audience with members of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria, who had appealed to political leaders and institutions to ensure free, fair, credible and peaceful elections in the country.
Meanwhile, Atiku also criticised the Tinubu administration over the management of Nigeria’s public finances following reports that the Federal Government borrowed above the limit approved by the National Assembly in the 2024 fiscal year.
In another statement issued by Shaibu, the former Vice President alleged that the latest borrowing figures reflected fiscal recklessness and poor financial management.
He referred to reports indicating that the Federal Government exceeded its approved borrowing ceiling by N4.79 trillion, bringing total fresh borrowing in the 2024 fiscal year to N12.62 trillion.
According to Atiku, Nigerians were told that the removal of fuel subsidy, increased taxes and other economic reforms would reduce borrowing and improve the country’s finances.
He argued that instead, public debt had continued to rise.
“Nigerians were promised that the painful removal of fuel subsidy, repeated tax hikes and other harsh economic measures would reduce borrowing and restore fiscal stability.
“Instead, the country is witnessing the exact opposite: endless borrowing, ballooning debt and unprecedented waste,” the statement said.
Atiku also questioned the source of an additional N3.19 trillion reportedly obtained as budget support despite not being included in the approved budget.
He further accused the administration of operating duplicated budgets, concealing expenditures through the Service Wide Vote, creating what he described as fake agencies and approving luxury spending while key sectors such as education, healthcare, security and infrastructure remained underfunded.
According to him, there was little evidence that the large borrowings had translated into meaningful improvements in the lives of Nigerians.
“The tragedy is that Nigerians are being forced to service debts whose benefits they cannot see,” he said.
He also pointed to reports that higher global crude oil prices generated an estimated N7.98 trillion oil revenue windfall for the Federal Government, arguing that such earnings should have reduced the country’s dependence on borrowing.
“A government earning windfalls while borrowing recklessly is not suffering from lack of revenue; it is suffering from lack of discipline,” Atiku stated.
The former Vice President also expressed concern over Nigeria’s rising debt servicing obligations, saying debt servicing had reportedly reached N12.36 trillion, far above budget estimates.
He warned that continued borrowing could push the country into a situation where new loans would mainly be used to repay existing debts.
“This is not economic reform. It is fiscal vandalism,” he declared.
Atiku said an ADC-led government would focus on blocking financial leakages, reducing waste and investing public funds in projects capable of creating jobs, growing the economy and improving the welfare of Nigerians.
As of the time of filing this report, there was no official response from the Presidency to Atiku’s latest remarks. However, the exchange is expected to fuel political debate as preparations for the 2027 elections gather momentum.