Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has criticized President Bola Tinubu's administration, claiming that its economic policies are causing hardship and increasing despair among Nigerians. He mocked Tinubu's approach, especially in response to Tinubu's recent prayer initiative led by the First Lady and National Security Adviser, saying that prayer alone will not address Nigeria's economic challenges.
Atiku argued that his own economic plan would have included structured steps to mitigate current issues, contrasting Tinubu’s measures as erratic and poorly planned. He cited examples from Nigeria's previous administrations, asserting that the economy was once more stable and prosperous, unlike the current conditions, which he attributed to policies like the subsidy removal and the currency free-float policy, which have reportedly burdened the populace with high living costs and limited business growth.
In response, Tinubu's administration has defended its approach, emphasizing that it inherited a struggling economy and that difficult reforms are necessary to stabilize Nigeria. Tinubu’s team has highlighted that the current economic strategy is aimed at long-term benefits, though it may cause short-term discomfort. They also challenged Atiku’s criticism by arguing that his past policies had similarly faced challenges, and his current recommendations lack viable solutions.