NIGERIA: Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has accused President Bola Tinubu of worsening Nigerians’ economic hardship, declaring that the president himself represents the “Egypt” millions of citizens are desperate to escape.
Atiku, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, made the remark while criticising Tinubu’s defence of fuel subsidy removal, accusing the President of trivialising the suffering of Nigerians with biblical analogies while families struggle with rising food, transportation and energy costs.
The former vice president also faulted the administration’s handling of insecurity and the welfare of police officers, insisting that Nigerians deserve affordable living costs, safer communities and better conditions of service for security personnel, reports The Guardian.
In a statement issued by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, Atiku said Tinubu’s comparison of subsidy removal to Moses leading the Israelites out of Egypt demonstrated a disconnect between the government and citizens grappling with economic difficulties.
“Bola, you are the Egypt Nigerians are desperate to escape,” Atiku said.
“You celebrate the day you made fuel more expensive, then lecture families struggling to pay for food and transport about why they must never go back.”
Tinubu had ruled out reversing fuel subsidy removal, drawing a parallel between the policy and the biblical account of Moses leading the Israelites out of Egypt.
But Atiku accused the President of celebrating the policy while households struggle to afford basic necessities, workers spend increasing portions of their earnings on transportation and businesses battle rising energy costs.
“At least Pharaoh knew he was holding people captive. Tinubu watches families cut meals, workers spend their salaries on transport and businesses struggle to keep their lights on, then tells them a story about Moses,” he said.
The ADC candidate argued that Nigerians needed practical economic relief rather than biblical comparisons.
“A mother trying to feed her children cannot pay for food with a metaphor. A worker cannot get to work on a story about the Red Sea. Nigerians are asking how you intend to make life affordable. Answer them,” he said.
Atiku proposes targeted fuel support
As an alternative to the current policy, Atiku proposed targeted and budgeted support for verified petroleum products refined in Nigeria and sold to domestic consumers.
He said imported fuel would be excluded from the proposed arrangement, while independent auditors would monitor the programme to ensure that its benefits translated into lower pump prices.
“If it does not lower that price, it has failed its purpose,” he said.
The proposal comes amid continuing public concerns over the cost of petrol and its impact on transportation, food prices, household spending and business operations.
Ex-VP faults Tinubu over insecurity
Atiku also accused Tinubu of failing to adequately address insecurity, arguing that the administration could no longer rely on the security challenges inherited from former President Muhammadu Buhari to explain persistent killings, kidnappings and attacks on communities.
He criticised a reported remark by the Director-General of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, Senator Abdulaziz Yari, who questioned what Tinubu could do about insecurity when Buhari, a retired general, had been unable to eliminate it.
Atiku countered that former President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, whom he described as not being a sergeant, had taken steps to tackle insecurity during his tenure.
“Nigerians expect their president to confront the killers, rescue the abducted and make it possible to travel, farm, work and sleep without fear,” he said.
He maintained that the government must accept responsibility for the security situation under its watch rather than shift the blame to its predecessor.
“The lives lost under his watch are not an argument about his predecessor. They are an indictment of his own leadership,” Atiku said.
He challenged Tinubu to explain how he intended to restore security after more than three years in office, insisting that Nigerians deserved clear answers before the President sought another four-year term.
Atiku demands improved police welfare
The former vice president also raised concerns about the welfare of serving and retired police officers, citing what he described as inadequate pensions and salaries.
Atiku said a retired Assistant Superintendent of Police had informed him that he received a monthly pension of ₦29,000.
He further alleged that serving police officers were dipping into their pension savings to meet their families’ needs, raising questions about their ability to perform their duties effectively while facing financial difficulties at home.
“How can a president demand courage from police officers in the field while leaving them worried about food at home and destitution in retirement?” he asked.
Atiku urged Tinubu to act on the Police Exit Bill and review the salaries of serving police officers, noting that members of the Armed Forces had received salary adjustments.
He also called for improved healthcare and retirement benefits, arguing that personnel responsible for protecting citizens should enjoy better conditions of service.
Concluding his criticism, Atiku said Tinubu’s reference to Egypt failed to reflect the economic distress and insecurity confronting millions of Nigerians.
“Stop pointing to Egypt as though it lies behind us. For millions of Nigerians, Egypt is the hunger, fear and indignity they are living through under you,” he said.
“They deserve affordable fuel, safe communities and police officers who can serve without sacrificing their families’ future. Tinubu made life expensive. I will make life affordable again.”
The exchange underscores the growing political contest over fuel subsidy removal, the cost of living, security and public sector welfare as political parties position themselves ahead of the 2027 general election.
