Atiku Slams Tinubu’s Reforms as Unbearable Hardship

Atiku Abubakar has slammed President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms, saying the cost of living has become unbearable for millions of Nigerians.

The former Vice President issued the sharp criticism on Friday through a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu. Atiku, a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, accused the President of distorting Nigeria’s reform history and ignoring the daily hardships faced by ordinary citizens.

Families across the country are skipping meals, businesses are closing shops, and incomes are vanishing under soaring inflation and weak purchasing power, the statement said. Atiku described the situation as one where insecurity stalks communities and hope is fading into despair, insisting that what was sold as reform has only delivered pain without relief.

NaijaChoice News reports that Atiku dismissed Tinubu’s recent comments as a “reckless tirade” that reveals hypocrisy and historical amnesia. He argued that the current administration’s handling of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited amounts to privatisation without transparency or clear valuation.

The statement recalled that Atiku had long pushed for the full privatisation of the NNPC and the sale of refineries to credible investors — a position he claimed Tinubu once opposed. It contrasted this with the present government’s approach, which it labelled as opaque and lacking accountability.

Atiku defended his own record in office by pointing to successful privatisations he supervised. These include Oando Plc (formerly Unipetrol), Conoil Plc, African Petroleum (now Ardova Plc), Indorama Eleme Petrochemicals, Benue Cement Company, and Transcorp Hilton Abuja, which he said revived state enterprises and unlocked value for the economy.

He accused the President of failing to engage with documented privatisation records, including accounts in Mallam Nasir El-Rufai’s book, The Accidental Public Servant. The statement noted the irony of Tinubu questioning others’ records while facing scrutiny over his own educational credentials.

“You cannot oppose reform when it demands courage and then execute a shadow version of it in power,” the statement added. Atiku said the President’s resort to mockery instead of facts points to a deeper leadership problem.

The latest outburst comes amid ongoing public debate over Tinubu’s reforms, which removed fuel subsidies and floated the naira. While the government has pointed to falling inflation and GDP growth projections for 2026, many households continue to battle high food prices and eroded living standards.