Atiku Abubakar, Nigeria’s former Vice President, has expressed deep concern over the escalating hunger crisis afflicting the nation’s impoverished communities. He criticized the current administration under President Bola Tinubu for its apparent inability to tackle the widespread food insecurity and poverty.
In a statement issued through his spokesperson, Paul Ibe, Atiku drew parallels between Nigeria’s current plight and historical instances where hunger sparked major upheavals, such as the revolutions in France, Russia, and the Arab world.
On September 15, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) leader condemned the alarming levels of hunger, especially among the vulnerable and marginalized populations across Nigeria.
“Regardless of any reforms the Tinubu government claims to be implementing, food scarcity remains a daily reality for millions nationwide. No government worthy of its mandate can neglect the fundamental duty of safeguarding the wellbeing and security of its people,” Atiku stated.
He cautioned that many of the world’s most intense social and political revolts have been ignited by widespread deprivation and harsh living conditions, particularly when extreme poverty exists amid abundant resources.
Highlighting the core obligation of any administration, Atiku underscored that ensuring citizens’ safety and welfare must be paramount.
Yet, he lamented that under President Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), millions of Nigerians continue to sink deeper into destitution and despair.
Atiku further warned that the nation’s deteriorating situation is contributing to a rise in criminal behaviors, including fraud on a massive scale, terrorism, kidnappings, cult-related violence, substance abuse, and ritualistic crimes.
He urged that this troubling reality should prompt serious reflection, citing historical precedents like the French Revolution, the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution, and the Arab Spring as cautionary tales.
Recalling a pivotal moment that ignited the Arab Spring, Atiku mentioned how a young man’s desperate act of self-immolation in Tunisia sparked widespread protests that swept across the Middle East and North Africa.
“Here in Nigeria, it is reasonable to argue that the ‘ENDSARS’ protests were also fueled by the deep-seated frustration caused by hunger and governmental neglect,” he remarked.
He emphasized that reforms must prioritize the people they serve, insisting that the current administration’s policies need to reflect genuine compassion and concern for citizens’ welfare.
“Whether acknowledged or not, the harsh truth remains that the poor are increasingly succumbing to hunger, while the majority of those struggling to survive are at the mercy of misguided government policies,” Atiku concluded.
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