Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, a 2027 presidential candidate for the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has issued a scathing critique of President Bola Tinubu’s three-year administration, asserting that its legacy is etched in "hunger, poverty, and the tears of abducted children." Speaking through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku declared that Nigerians are increasingly weary of "governance by propaganda" and are prepared to effect change via the ballot box.

As President Tinubu's third anniversary in office approaches on May 29, 2026, Atiku argued that the true measure of the administration's performance is not found in lavish advertisements or official ceremonies, but in the widespread hardship experienced across the nation. He condemned the government's perceived detachment from the realities faced by ordinary citizens, stating that while Abuja projects an image of progress, the country grapples with "the tears of hungry families, the despair of unemployed youths, the collapse of businesses, and the haunting images of schoolchildren being abducted by criminals."

Atiku specifically challenged the administration's promise of 'renewed hope', contending that Nigerians have instead been met with "renewed hardship, renewed insecurity, renewed poverty, and renewed hopelessness." He highlighted severe economic distress, pointing to rampant inflation that has pushed the cost of living beyond the reach of millions, skyrocketing food prices, and a proliferation of business closures. The former Vice President also lamented the sustained battering of the Naira and the consequent collapse of purchasing power, accusing the government of prioritizing public relations over tangible improvements in citizens' welfare. "Never in recent history have so many Nigerians worked so hard only to become poorer," he added.

Furthermore, Atiku questioned the Federal Government's escalating borrowing, alleging that massive loans, including approximately N11.9 trillion within a nine-month period, have not translated into visible societal improvements. He cited reports indicating that only N3.1 trillion of these funds were reportedly allocated to capital projects, prompting the crucial question: "where did the rest of the money go?" He also raised concerns about the perceived concentration of major infrastructure projects, such as the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and the Badagry-Sokoto Highway, towards a "privileged circle of politically connected interests," fostering a disturbing perception of inequality in resource allocation.

On the critical issue of insecurity, Atiku presented the recent abductions of schoolchildren in Borno and Oyo states as irrefutable evidence of the administration's failure to safeguard lives and property. He asserted these incidents are not isolated but rather represent "the most accurate report card of this administration after three years in office," starkly illustrating a governmental inability to ensure basic safety. He rhetorically asked, "What greater evidence of failure can there be than parents sending their children to school only to receive news that they have been abducted?"

Atiku concluded his critique by underscoring a growing political consciousness among Nigerians who are demanding accountability and refusing to be swayed by mere slogans or political theatre. He urged citizens to leverage the ballot box as their most potent instrument for democratic change, asserting its power over propaganda, intimidation, and incumbency. Looking ahead, Atiku announced that the African Democratic Congress (ADC) would soon unveil a comprehensive policy blueprint. This document, he promised, would be the result of extensive research and consultation, focusing on critical areas such as economic recovery, job creation, security sector reform, fiscal discipline, healthcare, education, and institutional reforms. He pledged that his campaign, as the ADC Presidential Candidate, would be driven by ideas, solutions, and competence, rather than insults or propaganda, expressing confidence in Nigeria's potential for recovery through accountable leadership, economic justice, and improved national security.