Nigerians Rally Behind Atiku’s Criticism of Economic Hardship

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s recent criticism of the economic policies of President Bola Tinubu’s administration has sparked a wave of support from citizens and key political figures, who agree that the country’s economic challenges are intensifying.

On Monday, Abubakar attributed the current economic hardship to what he described as the Tinubu administration’s “hasty ascent to power” without a well-defined policy direction.

Responding to a statement from the presidency dismissing his alternative solutions, Atiku emphasized that economic growth cannot be achieved through heavy taxation and urged the government to adopt policies that encourage development.

“The current economic turmoil is due to the administration’s incoherent plan,” Atiku stated, pointing out that his team had proposed a “comprehensive recovery plan” before the 2023 elections, which he argued would have mitigated the present economic crisis.

Presidential aide Bayo Onanuga dismissed Atiku’s comments, suggesting that his policies lacked detail and that his leadership would have worsened the economy.

Atiku criticized Tinubu’s handling of the fuel subsidy removal and overall economic policy, arguing that “prayer alone” cannot solve the nation’s economic woes.

He highlighted the success of other nations with low-tax policies and warned that heavy taxation would only deepen Nigeria’s economic troubles.

Support for Atiku’s remarks was widespread. Katsina State-based educationist Mallam Sabiu Fago described Nigeria’s economy as being on the brink of disaster, with skyrocketing food prices and increasing insecurity.

“The people are saying that they can no longer bear the pain of these economic policies,” Fago noted, emphasizing that many Nigerians now struggle to afford basic food items due to inflation.

A former lawmaker from Katsina State, Yusuf Shehu, endorsed Atiku’s assessment, arguing that the administration’s decision to remove fuel subsidies without safeguards has caused unmanageable hardship.

He pointed out that “from the moment the subsidy removal was announced, Nigerians have faced unrelenting suffering.”

Dr. Pogu Bitrus, President of the Middle Belt Forum, also voiced agreement with Atiku, blaming Nigeria’s difficulties on the dual policies of fuel subsidy removal and the naira’s flotation.

“The administration’s policies are anti-people,” Bitrus said, noting that without local fuel production, the cost of living will remain high.

Public opinion appears increasingly critical of the administration’s policies, with Lagos-based lawyer and analyst Marcellus Onah commenting that “Atiku was just speaking the minds of Nigerians.”

He cited widespread hunger and a rising crime rate as symptoms of a faltering economy.

Nigerians, particularly those in economically distressed areas, are urging the government to address the hardship urgently to avert a potentially worsening crisis.

Many argue that, while the government should implement reform, policies must be carefully considered to avoid exacerbating the plight of an already struggling populace.