Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has strongly criticised the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, warning that the use of food distribution and so-called palliatives as political tools is dangerous and undermines democracy.
In a statement issued on Friday in Abuja through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said what he described as “stomach infrastructure politics” was not only harmful but also a threat to the freedom of citizens to make independent political choices.
He argued that when poverty and hunger are used to influence public opinion, governance loses its moral foundation and the dignity of citizens is reduced.
“When hunger is weaponised, the freedom of citizens to make independent political choices is undermined,” the statement said. “When poverty becomes a tool of control, governance itself loses its moral foundation.”
Atiku’s remarks came in response to recent public programmes involving the distribution of food items and relief materials across parts of the country. He specifically criticised the flag-off of what was described as 100 trucks of rice and ₦1.2 billion in palliatives for northern states and the Federal Capital Territory.
He said the exercise, which was linked to the First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, was not an act of genuine compassion but a carefully planned political display in the face of widespread economic hardship.
According to him, such actions reflect a growing trend where food assistance is used not just for relief, but as a form of political messaging.
Atiku called on Nigerians to reject what he described as “politics of survival” and instead demand leadership that focuses on dignity, economic stability, and long-term development.
“The time has come to demand governance, not gestures,” he said.
The former Vice President also painted a bleak picture of the economic situation in the northern region, saying rising food prices, unemployment, and insecurity have combined to worsen living conditions.
He noted that agricultural activities, which many northern states depend on, have been severely affected by insecurity and poor government policies. According to him, many farming communities have been abandoned due to attacks and displacement, leading to reduced food production.
“These are not problems that can be solved with trucks of rice,” he said. “They require bold, coherent, and people-centred economic policies.”
Atiku argued that a responsible government should focus on building systems that ensure food security, support farmers, stabilise the economy, and improve citizens’ purchasing power.
“A responsible government does not turn hunger into a public relations strategy,” he added. “It builds systems that guarantee food security, stabilise the economy, empower farmers, and restore the purchasing power of citizens.”
He said Nigerians are not seeking short-term relief or charity but sustainable solutions that can improve living standards in the long run.
“What Nigerians demand is not charity for a moment, but prosperity that endures,” he said.
The former Vice President further accused the current administration of normalising poverty, saying many families can no longer afford basic meals due to rising inflation and declining income levels.
He said the economic hardship being experienced across the country has pushed millions of people into deeper poverty, while government responses have focused more on public image than structural reforms.
“Families can no longer afford basic meals, inflation has ravaged household incomes, and millions are being pushed daily into extreme deprivation,” he said.
Atiku also criticised what he described as the government’s focus on “optics,” saying food distribution events are often staged in a way that draws media attention but does little to address underlying problems.
He claimed that since 2023, farmers in northern Nigeria have suffered declining productivity due to policy failures and insecurity. According to him, many farmlands have been abandoned, affecting food supply chains across the country.
“Vast agricultural belts have been abandoned to insecurity, leaving farmers displaced and food supply chains severely weakened,” he said.
He warned that turning food into a political tool risks worsening public trust in government institutions and could deepen inequality and frustration among citizens.
Atiku also referenced earlier food distribution activities, including programmes carried out during religious periods. He mentioned that during Ramadan last year, the President’s son, Seyi Tinubu, reportedly led similar food distribution efforts in parts of the North.
He said what may have started as a charity initiative has now developed into a pattern of politicising hunger, where relief materials are used to gain public goodwill rather than address structural issues.
“What was then an experiment has now evolved into a full-blown policy of optics over substance,” he said.
He warned against normalising such practices, stressing that citizens should not be treated as recipients of periodic handouts while economic challenges continue to worsen.
“Let it be said without equivocation: Nigerians are not beggars to be pacified with periodic handouts while their livelihoods collapse,” he said.
Atiku’s comments come at a time when Nigeria continues to face economic difficulties, including high inflation, rising cost of living, and currency pressures. Many households have reported difficulty coping with the increasing prices of food and essential goods.
The Federal Government, on its part, has maintained that its economic reforms are aimed at long-term stability and growth. Officials have repeatedly pointed to various social intervention programmes as evidence of efforts to cushion the impact of reforms on vulnerable citizens.
However, critics argue that more needs to be done to address the root causes of poverty, including job creation, agricultural development, and improved security.
As debates continue, many Nigerians remain focused on how government policies will translate into real improvements in daily life, especially as inflation and unemployment continue to affect households across the country.