Former Vice President [Atiku Abubakar](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atiku_Abubakar) on Saturday accused President [Bola Tinubu](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bola_Tinubu) of shifting blame for Nigeria’s worsening economy onto the opposition, demanding the government justify its record ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
**What prompted the accusation?**
Atiku, the presidential candidate of the [African Democratic Congress (ADC)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_Democratic_Congress_(Nigeria)), reacted to Tinubu’s statement at an [All Progressives Congress (APC)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_Progressives_Congress) campaign flag‑off in Kaduna, where the president claimed the opposition had created hunger and poverty in the nation.
**How did Atiku describe the president’s comment?**
He labeled the remark “either delusion or a staggering case of political amnesia,” adding that the APC governed Nigeria for eight years before Tinubu took office and has now added another three and a half years, so “hardship did not begin when the opposition started talking about it.”
**Which policies did Atiku criticize?**
The former vice‑president singled out the removal of the petrol subsidy and the sharp depreciation of the naira, which he said fell from about ₦471 to ₦1,329 per US dollar. He also cited a World Bank estimate that 63 % of Nigerians could be living below the national poverty line in 2026, accusing the administration of presiding over rising poverty.
**What financial concerns were raised?**
Atiku questioned the extension of the 2024 budget into 2025 alongside a separate 2025 budget, and highlighted the reported ₦7.13 trillion recorded under “energy security” in 2024 and ₦11.2 trillion spent on NNPC pipeline‑related projects.
**What about infrastructure projects?**
He dismissed Tinubu’s planned inauguration of a section of the Abuja‑Kaduna Expressway as symbolic, stating, “A road cannot be completed with a speech or a ribbon‑cutting ceremony,” and used it to illustrate the president’s disconnect from everyday Nigerians.
In summary, Atiku demanded that the Tinubu administration answer for its economic record, policy decisions and spending priorities as the country approaches the 2027 presidential election.