NNPP, PDP Defend Atiku Over Hunger Warning, Slam APC
The war of words between the All Progressives Congress and the opposition intensified on Saturday as the New Nigeria People’s Party and the Peoples Democratic Party defended former Vice President Atiku Abubakar over his warning on rising hunger.
The APC had described Atiku’s statement as “reckless, irresponsible and a tacit instigation of revolution,” accusing him of attempting to destabilise President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
But opposition leaders countered that the ruling party was only trying to silence critics and divert attention from the worsening economic hardship facing Nigerians.
In an interview with PUNCH Online, NNPP National Publicity Secretary, Ladipo Johnson, said Atiku acted within his rights as a statesman.
“I do not think Atiku would be involved in inciting the Nigerian citizenry. As an elder statesman, I trust that he will not go that far. However, statesmen, when need be, must be bold enough to stand up and speak truth to power.
“They must be bold enough to tell the country what the situation is, where things are lacking and need improvement. I do not think that the APC should enjoy the luxury of simply trying to blackmail anyone who raises genuine fears about the situation of the country.
“If one says that there is hunger in the land and people are suffering, I do not think that has gone too far. If someone is warning that please do something as a government, it is just a warning. It is not a call to arms,” he said.
The PDP also rose in Atiku’s defence, accusing the APC of being detached from the plight of ordinary citizens.
Deputy National Youth Leader of the PDP, Timothy Osadolor, argued that Atiku merely echoed the frustrations of millions of Nigerians.
“It is shameful and painful at the same time when you see people entrusted with public trust, taking care of public finances, and taxpayers’ money, acting and behaving the way these members of the current APC government are doing. Because they live in a cocoon, they are very much isolated from the realities of everyday Nigeria.
“Now, all Atiku actually said, or what he actually did, is giving a voice to the thoughts of millions of Nigerians spread across the length and breadth of this country, who find it nearly impossible to survive with two square meals a day.
“The truth is that the cost of living in this country has reached a point that if something is not done about it, we may soon become a beggarly nation.
“They are only vilifying and harassing Atiku because they know that what he said is true, and they don’t want Nigerians to have a voice.
“If they are very confident that they have done well, let them write to the Inspector General of Police to withdraw the orderlies and the hundreds of policemen guarding them, so they can walk free, and let’s really know if the people are truly happy with them,” he stated.
Atiku, who lost to Tinubu in the 2023 election, had warned that government’s economic policies could trigger unrest comparable to the French and Russian revolutions if hunger and hardship persist.
While the APC dismissed his remarks as “dangerous and anti-democratic,” the NNPP and PDP insisted he only gave expression to the anger of Nigerians struggling to feed under the Tinubu administration.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
