The African Democratic Congress, ADC, presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has said President Bola Tinubu’s policies are pushing Nigerians into poverty and hardship.
Atiku, however, vowed to challenge those policies on a daily basis.
In a statement by his media aide, Phrank Shaibu, the former vice president said Nigerians have been stripped of their purchasing power under Tinubu.
He said: “A President who can inflict this much pain on Nigerians should be able to survive hearing his own name.
“If Tinubu feels disrespected by being called his own name, he should imagine how Nigerians feel after being stripped of their purchasing power, crushed by inflation and instructed to endure hardship while those in power live extravagantly at public expense.
“Respect for the presidency cannot be demanded through intimidation. It must be earned through competent leadership, compassion and results.
“And he certainly does not have to wait for the campaign trail before demanding relief for millions of Nigerians whom Tinubu’s policies have pushed into poverty.
“Opposition is not seasonal. Accountability does not observe an electoral timetable.
“If Tinubu’s government can impose hardship every day, Atiku has the right to challenge it every day.
“Only people insulated from hardship by public funds could describe the daily misery of millions as “transient discomfort.”
“For the hungry child, this is not discomfort. For the bankrupt trader, this is not reform. For the unemployed graduate, this is not a foundation. It is failure.
“Tinubu removed the petrol subsidy without a coherent plan to protect Nigerians from the consequences.”
2027: I’ll challenge Tinubu daily for pushing Nigerians into poverty, hardship – Atiku