Nyesom Wike Nigeria News: Tinubu should account for his first term before seeking re election - Atiku
Published on: 10/17/2026
By Timothy
Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has accused President Bola Tinubu of avoiding direct engagement with Nigerians ahead of the flag-off of his 2027 re-election campaign.
In a statement issued on Thursday by Phrank Shaibu, director of strategic communication of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential campaign council, Atiku said Tinubu should account for his administration’s performance before seeking another four-year mandate.
On Wednesday, Tinubu announced that he would not attend every presidential campaign rally of the All Progressives Congress (APC), saying governance has always been a priority for him.
Atiku, the ADC presidential candidate, criticised Tinubu’s suggestion that he might miss some campaign rallies because of pressing national responsibilities.
He questioned why the president had not shown similar urgency in addressing the economic difficulties facing Nigerians.
“Tinubu says he may miss campaign rallies because Nigeria needs his attention. Where was that urgency when Nigerians pleaded for relief?” Atiku asked.
“He has had three and a half years to govern. In that time, families have been forced to cut meals, postpone medical care and watch their earnings lose value before they get home.”
Atiku said Tinubu should personally explain his administration’s economic policies and their impact on ordinary Nigerians rather than relying on political allies to defend his record.
“Now he wants another mandate. Before asking Nigerians for one, he must face them and account for the first term,” he said.
“Let him look a mother in the eye and explain what his government has done to make food affordable. Let him tell pensioners why they cannot afford their medicines. Let him explain to young Nigerians why years of study and hard work have still not brought them decent jobs.”
The ADC presidential candidate also criticised what he described as the administration’s prioritisation of creditors and investors over Nigerians’ immediate needs.
“Tinubu says American creditors cannot wait. Nigerians cannot wait either. They have bills to pay, children to feed and lives to rebuild. They deserve a president who treats their suffering with the same urgency he gives creditors and investors,” he said.
‘TINUBU CANNOT FILL AN EMPTY POT WITH SURROGATES’
Atiku accused Tinubu of relying on governors, ministers and politicians who recently defected to the APC to defend his administration’s record rather than personally address Nigerians’ concerns.
He said political endorsements and campaign appearances by Tinubu’s allies would not resolve households’ economic challenges.
“Instead, he is assembling a crowd of politicians to speak for him. He can fill every campaign stage in Nigeria. He cannot fill an empty pot with surrogates. He cannot send a politician into a market to persuade prices to fall,” Atiku said.
“The people on his campaign council did not receive the mandate in 2023. Tinubu did. He made the promises. He took the decisions. He must face the questions.”
Atiku said Nigerians would assess the president’s performance based on their experiences under his administration rather than the arguments advanced by his political supporters.
“Nigerians will hear whatever his surrogates have to say. But when they vote, they will remember what they have lived through. No crowd of politicians can stand between Tinubu and his record,” he said.
Nyesom Wike News
In a statement issued on Thursday by Phrank Shaibu, director of strategic communication of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential campaign council, Atiku said Tinubu should account for his administration’s performance before seeking another four-year mandate.
On Wednesday, Tinubu announced that he would not attend every presidential campaign rally of the All Progressives Congress (APC), saying governance has always been a priority for him.
Atiku, the ADC presidential candidate, criticised Tinubu’s suggestion that he might miss some campaign rallies because of pressing national responsibilities.
He questioned why the president had not shown similar urgency in addressing the economic difficulties facing Nigerians.
“Tinubu says he may miss campaign rallies because Nigeria needs his attention. Where was that urgency when Nigerians pleaded for relief?” Atiku asked.
“He has had three and a half years to govern. In that time, families have been forced to cut meals, postpone medical care and watch their earnings lose value before they get home.”
Atiku said Tinubu should personally explain his administration’s economic policies and their impact on ordinary Nigerians rather than relying on political allies to defend his record.
“Now he wants another mandate. Before asking Nigerians for one, he must face them and account for the first term,” he said.
“Let him look a mother in the eye and explain what his government has done to make food affordable. Let him tell pensioners why they cannot afford their medicines. Let him explain to young Nigerians why years of study and hard work have still not brought them decent jobs.”
The ADC presidential candidate also criticised what he described as the administration’s prioritisation of creditors and investors over Nigerians’ immediate needs.
“Tinubu says American creditors cannot wait. Nigerians cannot wait either. They have bills to pay, children to feed and lives to rebuild. They deserve a president who treats their suffering with the same urgency he gives creditors and investors,” he said.
‘TINUBU CANNOT FILL AN EMPTY POT WITH SURROGATES’
Atiku accused Tinubu of relying on governors, ministers and politicians who recently defected to the APC to defend his administration’s record rather than personally address Nigerians’ concerns.
He said political endorsements and campaign appearances by Tinubu’s allies would not resolve households’ economic challenges.
“Instead, he is assembling a crowd of politicians to speak for him. He can fill every campaign stage in Nigeria. He cannot fill an empty pot with surrogates. He cannot send a politician into a market to persuade prices to fall,” Atiku said.
“The people on his campaign council did not receive the mandate in 2023. Tinubu did. He made the promises. He took the decisions. He must face the questions.”
Atiku said Nigerians would assess the president’s performance based on their experiences under his administration rather than the arguments advanced by his political supporters.
“Nigerians will hear whatever his surrogates have to say. But when they vote, they will remember what they have lived through. No crowd of politicians can stand between Tinubu and his record,” he said.
Nyesom Wike News