Atiku Slams Tinubu’s Address: “It Fails to Alleviate Nigerians’ Suffering

In a recent statement, Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 elections, dismissed President Bola Tinubu’s Sunday broadcast as lacking substance and failing to address the pressing hardships facing Nigerians.

Atiku, speaking through his Media Adviser Paul Ibe, criticized the speech for missing the mark and failing to provide solutions to the economic challenges that have plagued Nigerian families since the start of Tinubu’s administration.

“His (Tinubu’s) speech neglects the pressing economic hardships that have besieged Nigerian families since the very beginning of his tenure,” Atiku said. “This address lacks credibility and fails to offer any immediate, tangible solutions to the Nigerian people.”

Atiku pointed out that despite the widespread protests and the government’s threats against demonstrators, President Tinubu did not present any groundbreaking reforms, particularly those aimed at reducing the high costs of governance.

“No such announcements were made. The President ignored the protesters’ demands, such as suspending the purchase of aircraft for the President, downsizing his bloated cabinet, or eliminating the costly and burdensome office of the First Lady, who has been indulging in extravagant trips at the nation’s expense,” he added.

Atiku criticized the recorded speech for being superficial and failing to convince the audience of any meaningful reforms. He expressed disappointment that President Tinubu’s words lacked substance and respect for the protesters’ sentiments, leaving Nigerians with little faith in his administration’s reform agenda.

“We urge the President and his team to own up to their failures over the past 14 months and abandon the absurd theory that the protests are orchestrated by the opposition,” Atiku stated. “This administration has failed on all fronts, even in the simple task of keeping a presidential speech confidential.”

He further highlighted the premature leak of the speech, which allowed Nigerians to read along with the President in real-time, illustrating the dwindling confidence in the administration.

“The opposition did not create the economic quagmire we find ourselves in; this disaster is solely the result of the Tinubu administration’s trial-and-error policies. It is high time they stopped the blame game and faced the reality of their failures,” Atiku concluded.