Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has strongly criticized President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Independence Day address, dismissing the President’s claims of progress and insisting that Nigerians are still faced with hunger, insecurity, and hardship.
In a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Public Communications, Phrank Shuaibu, Atiku argued that Tinubu’s speech painted an unrealistic picture of Nigeria at 65. He said the government’s supposed achievements in education, healthcare, and the economy have not translated into real improvements in the lives of ordinary citizens.
“The yam may be plentiful, but if the pot is empty, the stomach still rumbles,” the statement read. “The president spoke of more schools, yet many pupils still sit on bare floors. He mentioned more hospitals, but families still carry basic supplies into wards before treatment. A man who builds many huts without roofs has only built shade for goats.”
On the economy, Atiku faulted Tinubu’s so-called “bold reforms,” noting that food prices have skyrocketed, transportation costs consume household incomes, and families struggle to afford even one meal a day. “If these are the seeds of reform, then the fruit is still bitter,” the statement added.
Addressing insecurity, Atiku accused the government of overstating victories against terrorists and bandits. He pointed to continued kidnappings, ransom payments, and violent attacks, citing the recent killing of Somtochukwu, a young journalist with Arise TV, as evidence that no one is safe.
The statement also questioned the government’s claims of disbursing billions to poor households, asking why the impact is not visible: “If the yam was truly cooked, neighbours would perceive the aroma. Poverty still walks naked, and hunger knocks daily.”
Atiku stressed that Nigerian youths, instead of enjoying opportunities, are forced into menial jobs despite their qualifications. “You cannot tell a child to dream big while you steal the mat he sleeps on,” he said.
He further emphasized that Nigeria’s 65th independence anniversary should be a moment of sober reflection, not self-praise. “The true measure of progress is whether Nigerians have food on their tables, whether children are learning, hospitals are healing, and families can sleep safely. Independence is not in speeches but in the daily reality of the people.”
Concluding, the former Vice President remarked: “Nigeria is 65 years old. But our leaders still serve promises as though they were meals. The yam is there, but the pot remains empty.”
Source:Africa Publicity
