Atiku Abubakar, Nigeria’s former Vice President and prominent opposition figure, has issued a pointed response to President Bola Tinubu’s nationwide address commemorating Nigeria’s 65th Independence Day. Atiku described the nation’s situation as not only lacking sustenance but also fundamentally broken, emphasizing that the populace continues to suffer from hunger and deprivation.
Earlier that day, President Tinubu had expressed optimism about the country’s progress, highlighting milestones such as solidifying foundations “on concrete rather than quicksand” and celebrating achievements in education, healthcare, economic reforms, and national security.
However, Atiku, through a statement released by his Special Assistant on Public Communications, Phrank Shuaibu, countered these claims with a vivid metaphor: “Even if the yam is abundant, an empty pot means the stomach still growls.”
The statement pointed out that while the president boasted about the increase in schools since independence, many students still endure harsh conditions-sitting on bare floors and writing in dust-while teachers abandon classrooms due to inadequate pay that fails to cover basic needs.
Regarding healthcare, Atiku criticized the government’s claims of expanded hospital infrastructure, noting that many patients still bring their own candles, syringes, and medications before receiving treatment. He likened this to building numerous huts without roofs, which only provide shelter for goats rather than people.
On the economic front, the statement acknowledged the administration’s talk of bold reforms but highlighted the harsh reality Nigerians face daily: soaring food prices, transport costs that consume incomes, and families surviving on less than one meal per day. “If these are the seeds of reform, the harvest remains bitter,” Atiku remarked. “Declaring the rain has extinguished a burning roof is sheer folly.”
Addressing security, Atiku noted that while President Tinubu praised the armed forces and claimed victories over terrorists, bandits, and kidnappers, ordinary Nigerians continue to live in fear, often paying ransoms as if it were a routine expense. He mourned the recent death of Somtochukwu, a young Arise TV news anchor killed during a robbery, underscoring that no one is safe in today’s Nigeria. “A farmer cannot claim the bush is cleared while weeds still strangle his yam,” he added.
Atiku also challenged the government’s assertion that billions have been distributed to impoverished households, questioning the tangible impact of such disbursements. “If the yam were truly cooked, its aroma would be evident to neighbors,” he said, lamenting that poverty and hunger remain widespread despite official claims of generosity.
He further highlighted the plight of Nigerian youth, who are promised opportunities to soar but often end up selling sachet water or riding motorbikes to make ends meet. “You cannot encourage a child to dream big while stealing the very mat they sleep on,” Atiku stated, calling for genuine opportunities rather than empty rhetoric.
Reflecting on Nigeria’s 65-year journey, Atiku acknowledged the nation’s resilience through civil war, military rule, and various crises but warned that endurance should not be mistaken for approval. He reminded that the founding fathers envisioned a country abundant in justice and opportunity, yet today, only a privileged few access the scarce resources.
“A masquerade does not applaud itself; it is the audience that cheers when the performance is worthy. Nigerians remain silent because the soundtrack of their lives is hunger, insecurity, and despair. Data and presentations do not fill empty pots or illuminate dark homes,” he concluded.
For Atiku, the true gauge of Nigeria’s progress at 65 is not the number of universities or the volume of coal extracted but whether citizens have access to food, quality education, effective healthcare, and safe living environments.
“Anniversaries of independence should inspire honest reflection, not self-congratulation. If this administration is truly building foundations, let them be visible in functional schools, affordable food, dependable electricity, and secure communities. Let the voices of market women and farmers be heard-not just politicians at podiums,” he urged.
“Nigeria is 65 years old, yet its leaders continue to serve promises as if they were meals. The yam exists, but the pot remains empty,” Atiku concluded.
