Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has blamed opposition politicians for the hunger and poverty affecting the country, as he launched his campaign for the 2027 presidential election.
Speaking at a rally in Kaduna, northern Nigeria, Tinubu accused his political opponents of creating the economic problems they now criticise his government for failing to resolve.
His spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, said the president was referring to former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and other opposition leaders. Onanuga cited the privatisation of state-owned enterprises during Abubakar’s tenure from 1999 to 2007, arguing that some workers affected by the process were left without their full pension and gratuity payments.
The spokesperson said Tinubu’s administration was working to settle some of those outstanding obligations.
The accusations come as economic hardship remains a major political issue in Africa’s most populous country, where the cost of living has put pressure on households. Tinubu’s government has defended its economic policies while promising to address poverty and improve living conditions.
