Atiku Abubakar has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s National Day address. The former Vice President and ADC presidential candidate questioned claims of impending economic prosperity. He pointed to widespread living costs. He called for targeted energy price stabilisation.
Atiku has contested every presidential election since 2007. He lost in 2019 and 2023. He is running again in 2027. His criticisms of Tinubu are campaign material. The National Day address is a platform for the president to project optimism. Atiku’s response is a platform to project empathy. Both are political.
Tinubu’s address focused on economic reforms. He said the country is on the path to prosperity. He cited GDP growth and reserves. Atiku said the claims do not match reality. He said Nigerians face high food, transport and energy costs. He said the government must stabilise energy prices in a targeted way. He did not propose specific mechanisms. He framed the address as disconnected from daily life.
The exchange reflects the 2027 campaign. Tinubu will run on his record. Atiku will run on the cost of living. The economy is the battleground. Fuel prices are a top concern. Two-thirds of voters want some form of fuel support restored, according to SBM Intelligence polling. Atiku is positioning himself as the candidate who will provide it.
Winners: Atiku, who gains a campaign issue. The opposition, which gains a narrative. Losers: Tinubu, whose address is challenged. The government, which must defend its record. Voters, who face another cycle of claim and counter-claim.
Bottom Line: Atiku rejected Tinubu’s prosperity claims. He wants energy price stabilisation. The 2027 campaign has begun. The economy will decide it.