Three top Nigerian politicians — Atiku Abubakar, Rotimi Amaechi, and Nasir El-Rufai — have promised to stop President Bola Tinubu from winning a second term in 2027. They accused his government of worsening insecurity, hunger, and poverty across the country.
They spoke during a public lecture held over the weekend to mark Amaechi’s 60th birthday. The event was titled “Weaponisation of Poverty as a Means of Underdevelopment: A Case Study of Nigeria.”
Atiku, a former Vice President and the 2023 PDP presidential candidate, accused Tinubu’s administration of using poverty to control the people.
“What we are experiencing in Nigeria today is state-sanctioned weaponisation of poverty. You may call me a conspirator, you may call me anything. That is why we are in this alliance — to make sure we don’t allow them to continue weaponising poverty.” Atiku said.
He shared his experience in Kano, where he said he saw many people sleeping under bridges due to poverty and insecurity.
“This was not the Kano I knew growing up,” he added.
Former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, also blamed the Tinubu administration for rising poverty and hunger, saying it cuts across all parts of the country.
“We are all hungry, all of us are. If you are not hungry, I am,” Amaechi said. “This government has made people poorer, and that has increased the level of insecurity and crime in society.”
He urged opposition parties to unite and focus on saving the country. “For the opposition to lead us out of this problem, we must all agree to submit ourselves to the interest of the nation first,” he said.
Amaechi also revealed why he refused to support Tinubu during the 2023 election. “I told Tinubu in Yola: I will not support you; I will not work for you. And I didn’t. It was about capacity,” he said.
He criticised Nigeria’s political leaders for failing the people and said most of them do not truly care. “The benefits of the fuel subsidy removal? They’re sitting in the pockets of the elite,” he said.
Speaking at the same event, former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, said Nigeria is in its worst condition since 1914.
El-Rufai said, “Nigeria is in its biggest trouble since 1914. That’s why we are working together to take Nigeria back on track — because right now, it is off track.”
He blamed the country’s problems on “urban bandits” — leaders who he said have power but no competence.
“Our biggest problem is that we hand over power to people who have no idea what to do,” El-Rufai added.
Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, praised Amaechi for refusing to step down for Tinubu during the 2022 APC presidential primaries. “The main reason I had to be here today is because I admire Rotimi Amaechi’s fighting spirit. It’s consistent,” he said.
The Emir of Kano and former CBN Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, also spoke. He said he only truly saw how deep poverty runs in Nigeria after he became Emir.
“As an economist and a former CBN governor, I saw the numbers. But I didn’t know poverty until I became Emir,” he said.
Former Bayelsa Governor, Senator Seriake Dickson, advised the opposition to “shine their eyes” and be strategic.
“You are expert conspirators, but this time, shine your eyes,” he said jokingly.
In response, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) dismissed the opposition’s claims. APC’s National Director of Publicity, Bala Ibrahim, said those attacking Tinubu are simply angry because they lost out.
“When people speak out of anger because they are aggrieved, their assessments cannot be objective or fair,” he said.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a reformer… Yes, some people will feel offended in the process — that’s expected. But if the larger population stands to benefit, then so be it,” he said.