Atiku responds firmly to Tinubu and the APC, urging them to stay out of opposition matters.

Atiku Abubakar, the former Vice President and leader of the opposition, has criticized President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). He accused them of meddling in the affairs of opposition parties instead of addressing Nigeria's deepening economic and security issues.

This criticism was expressed in a statement released by Atiku’s Media Adviser, Paul Ibe, after Tinubu made remarks against the African Democratic Congress (ADC) during the APC's 14th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting.

The statement claimed that President Tinubu was misusing government resources and institutions to weaken opposition parties, labeling his actions as a desperate attempt to create a one-party state in Nigeria.

It went on to say that Tinubu appeared more interested in his 2027 re-election campaign than in fulfilling his presidential duties and attending to the daily hardships faced by ordinary Nigerians.

The statement remarked, “Before interfering with the ADC’s matters, President Tinubu should prioritize repairing his relationship with Vice President Kashim Shettima and addressing Nigeria's failing economy.”

It expressed surprise that government funds were being used to create internal strife, aiming to diminish alternative political voices.

Moreover, the statement suggested that the presidency was instigating conflicts between Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi's supporters within the opposition coalition, asserting that this strategy had backfired.

“We recognize that the alleged rifts between Atiku's and Peter Obi's backers in the Coalition were intentionally provoked by the presidency. Unfortunately for them, this divisive approach has not worked. The divisions have healed, and the Coalition is now more united than ever,” the statement continued.

Atiku also condemned Tinubu's government as ineffective and disconnected from the issues that matter to Nigerians.

He characterised the APC-led administration as ‘lacking direction, incompetent, and completely unaware of the struggles faced by the average citizen,’ pointing to increasing insecurity, hunger, and poverty as clear indicators of its failures.

“In the face of rising insecurity, hunger, and poverty, Tinubu is engaged in trivial politics instead of governance. He seems preoccupied with his ambitions for re-election in 2027, even though he has not delivered anything significant since the 2023 election,” the statement concluded.

The former Vice President claimed that the president is misusing anti-corruption agencies and other government bodies to threaten and coerce opposition figures into switching to the APC.

“By employing state institutions, particularly those fighting corruption, Tinubu is bullying and pressuring opposition leaders to join the APC. However, the reality is that Tinubu is anxious about the Coalition. He is aware that this Coalition poses a threat to his position, whether that means returning to Bourdillon or Iragbiji,” the statement expressed.

Atiku called on President Tinubu to cease these political distractions and concentrate on addressing Nigeria’s urgent issues.

The statement also highlighted the opposition coalition’s dedication to providing Nigerians with a credible alternative to the APC-led administration.