Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has expressed concern over what he described as worsening hunger and poverty among Nigerians.
Atiku, who was the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, made the observation in a statement issued by his Media Adviser, Mr. Paul Ibe, on Monday in Abuja.
He alleged that the administration of President Bola Tinubu had failed to address the hunger crisis nearly two years after coming to power.
“At this time, there are no manifest signs that this government is capable of addressing the grim issue of severe hunger staring the poor in the face,” Atiku said.
The former vice president warned that unchecked poverty and hunger could trigger widespread unrest, recalling historical revolutions that emerged from similar conditions, including the French Revolution, the 1917 Russian Revolution and the Arab Spring.
He also linked Nigeria’s 2020 #EndSARS protest to frustrations caused by hunger and government insensitivity.
According to him, food insecurity remains a daily challenge nationwide despite government’s claims of reforms.
“There is no government worth its salt that does not place priority on the welfare and security of the people,” he added.
Atiku said the prevailing hardship should serve as an opportunity for reflection, stressing that reforms must have a human face and be targeted at easing the suffering of citizens.
“Whether the present powers accept it or not, the reality is that the poor are increasingly dying of hunger while the majority of the living poor exist at the mercy of the ill-advised policies of this government,” he said.