The All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused former Vice President and 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, of making statements capable of inciting public unrest and undermining national peace.
In a strongly worded press statement issued on Tuesday, the APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, described Atiku’s remarks on hunger, insecurity, and the state of the economy as “reckless, irresponsible, unbefitting and degrading to his status as a former Vice President.”
Atiku, in a statement on Monday, September 15, had criticized President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms, likening Nigeria’s current situation to conditions that led to historic revolutions in France, Russia, and the Arab Spring uprisings.
The APC, however, dismissed Atiku’s critique as a veiled call for a revolution.
“While garbed as a critique of the economic policies of President Tinubu’s administration, Atiku’s statement is nothing short of a tacit instigation of a revolution in Nigeria,” Morka said. “His statement is reckless, irresponsible, unbefitting and degrading to his status as former Vice President.”
The ruling party accused the PDP and Atiku of failing to address hunger, poverty, and insecurity during their 16 years in power, despite what it called “humongous oil revenues” at their disposal.
“They plundered and looted our treasury, enthroned corruption as state policy, and cemented the sordid foundations of hunger, poverty and insecurity that President Tinubu is courageously battling to defeat,” the statement read.
Morka also referenced Atiku’s past controversies, including the alleged mismanagement of $16 billion earmarked for power sector reforms during his tenure as Vice President, insisting that Nigerians have repeatedly rejected his presidential ambition and will do so again in 2027.
The APC maintained that Atiku’s comments were out of touch with recent economic indicators, including reports of falling inflation and positive growth projections.
“Atiku must know that instigating anarchy is not legitimate or justifiable opposition politics. Violence is never a desirable or acceptable mode of democratic engagement,” Morka warned.
The ruling party called on Nigerians to disregard Atiku’s remarks, remain peaceful, and continue supporting the Tinubu administration’s “Renewed Hope” agenda aimed at restoring economic growth and national stability.
