Three prominent opposition leaders — former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, and ex-governors Nasir El-Rufai and Rotimi Amaechi — have launched a scathing attack on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, accusing him of worsening poverty, hunger, and insecurity, and vowing to unseat him in 2027.
The leaders made these remarks at a public lecture titled “Weaponisation of Poverty as a Means of Underdevelopment: A Case Study of Nigeria”, held over the weekend to commemorate Amaechi’s 60th birthday.
Atiku: “This is State-Sanctioned Poverty”
Atiku, the 2023 PDP presidential candidate, accused the Tinubu administration of weaponising poverty to control the masses.
“What we are experiencing today is state-sanctioned weaponisation of poverty,” he said. “We are in this alliance to stop them.”
Recalling the prosperous days of Kano, Atiku lamented the visible rise in homelessness and suffering, highlighting deliberate government interference in efforts to aid the poor.
Amaechi: “Hunger Knows No Tribe or Religion”
Amaechi stressed the urgency for the opposition to unite against what he described as a failing administration.
“We’re all hungry. If we are serious, we can remove this man from power,” he declared. “Hunger doesn’t recognise ethnicity or religion. This government has made people poorer.”
He openly criticised Nigeria’s political elite, saying, “We talk like we care, then go plot behind closed doors. Nobody truly cares.”
Amaechi revealed he refused to back Tinubu in 2023, citing lack of leadership capacity. “I told him in Yola: I will not support or vote for you.”
El-Rufai: “Urban Bandits Have Taken Over Power”
Former Kaduna governor Nasir El-Rufai painted a dire picture of the country’s condition.
“Nigeria is in its worst state since 1914. Urban bandits — incompetent leaders — have hijacked power.”
He called for a coalition based on competence, capacity, and vision to restore the nation’s path.
Soyinka Applauds Amaechi’s Defiance
Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka commended Amaechi’s refusal to step down for Tinubu during the APC primaries.
“I admired Amaechi’s fighting spirit. It reminded me of Tinubu’s own refusal to bow to pressure during the Obasanjo era.”
Sanusi: “We’ve Lost Touch with the Poor”
Former CBN Governor and Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, condemned elite disconnect from grassroots realities.
“As CBN governor, I saw data. As Emir, I saw real poverty. Leaders build for themselves while villagers lack clinics.”
He urged policymakers to reflect deeply on the human consequences of their decisions.
Dickson to Opposition: “Shine Your Eyes”
Former Bayelsa Governor and Senator Seriake Dickson urged the opposition to avoid past mistakes.
“You conspired and took over power in 2015. Eleven years later, we still lament. This time, shine your eyes.”
APC Hits Back: “You Lack Capacity and Credibility”
The APC dismissed the opposition’s accusations. Its National Director of Publicity, Bala Ibrahim, said:
“These attacks are driven by bitterness. President Tinubu is a reformer. Reforms will upset some, but the goal is national prosperity.”
The Presidency has yet to issue an official response. Attempts to reach key advisers were unsuccessful.
However, The opposition is intensifying its attack on Tinubu’s leadership, accusing him of deepening national suffering and pledging a united front for 2027. With voices like Atiku, Amaechi, El-Rufai, Soyinka, and Sanusi speaking out, the political landscape ahead of the next election is heating up — and unity within the opposition may be the deciding factor.
