Independence Day: Atiku Asks Nigerians To “Sweep Away Tinubu’s Inept Government” At Next Polls

Independence Day: Atiku Asks Nigerians To “Sweep Away Tinubu’s Inept Government” At Next Polls

He argued that rather than safeguarding lives and livelihoods, the Tinubu administration has stood by as citizens are overwhelmed by hunger and attacks from bandits.

Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has accused President Bola Tinubu’s administration of abandoning Nigerians to hunger, insecurity, and worsening hardship.

In a statement issued on October 1, 2025, to mark Nigeria’s 65th Independence Day, Atiku lamented that despite the country’s vast wealth and resources, citizens have been left to suffer under poor leadership.

“It is tragic that in a country blessed with immense human and material resources, millions of our people have been reduced to refugees and beggars in their fatherland. Every responsible government holds the welfare and security of its citizens as supreme,” Atiku said.

He argued that rather than safeguarding lives and livelihoods, the Tinubu administration has stood by as citizens are overwhelmed by hunger and attacks from bandits.

“But what we have today is an administration that has abandoned its people. Hunger is killing Nigerians, bandits are massacring communities, yet President Tinubu and his cabinet stand by, unmoved and uncaring,” he added.

Atiku urged Nigerians not to lose hope in democracy, stressing that they retain the power to vote out bad leadership through the ballot box.

“The beauty of democracy lies in the power of the ballot. Oppressed and battered as our people may feel today, they will have the chance to sweep away this inept government at the next polls. That is the power no cabal can take away from the people,” he stated.

Reflecting on Nigeria’s journey since independence, the former Vice President described the country as a giant moving too slowly as a result of leadership failure.

“At 65, Nigeria remains a giant moving painfully slow on feet of clay, a direct result of decades of poor leadership and wasteful governance,” he said.

Nonetheless, Atiku expressed optimism that with the right leadership, Nigeria can overcome its challenges and rise again.

“Nonetheless, with the right leadership, our dear country can still rise from the ashes of failed governance to reclaim its rightful place among the comity of nations.”

Earlier on Tuesday, Atiku condemned the situation in Kwara State where bandits are terrorising the residents, he posted;

“The tempo of armed attacks in some parts of Kwara State, and indeed in different parts of the country, is alarming.The recent being the reported tragic killings at Oke-Ode where innocent lives, including vigilantes and the traditional ruler of Ogbayo community, were killed by rampaging bandits.”

“I wish to once again make a call to relevant security agencies and policy makers to not let the map of insecurity fester, as it seems.”

“I would implore that all hands are on deck to ensure that our beloved Kwara State and its people are not just protected but also be the bulwark against a raging dark army of armed criminals.”