Tinubu Blames Former Vice‑President Atiku for Nigeria’s Hunger Crisis

President Tinubu Blames Atiku for Hunger

On Saturday, 7 November 2026, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu spoke at the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential rally in Rivers State. The event, held at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in Port Harcourt, attracted party leaders, governors and supporters as the APC campaigns for the 2027 general election. Tinubu used the platform to accuse former Vice‑President Atiku Abubakar of creating the country’s hunger crisis. He said that Atiku had used state resources to build a private university while serving as Vice‑President under former President Olusegun Obasanjo. The president claimed that the university was funded with public money and that Atiku’s actions had contributed to the current economic decline.

Tinubu’s remarks came a day after he criticised another presidential candidate, Peter Obi, for his record as governor of Anambra State. At the rally in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, the president compared Obi’s handling of erosion problems with his own experience in Lagos, where he said he had confronted challenges posed by the Atlantic Ocean.

During the Rivers State rally, Tinubu also addressed Governor Sir Siminalayi Fubara. He thanked the governor for his support of the APC and the Rainbow Coalition ahead of the 2027 election, and said he would not regret his recent political decisions. Tinubu praised Fubara for his maturity and respect for elders, noting that the governor had pledged to deliver three million votes for the president.

Background

The hunger crisis in Nigeria has been a long‑standing issue, with the government facing criticism over food security and economic management. President Tinubu, who assumed office in 2023, has repeatedly highlighted the legacy of previous administrations as a barrier to progress. In his speech, he referred to Atiku Abubakar, a former Vice‑President who served from 1999 to 2007, accusing him of misusing public funds for personal gain.

Atiku’s tenure as Vice‑President coincided with the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo. Tinubu alleged that during this period, Atiku established a private university using state resources, a claim that has been a point of contention between the two politicians. The accusation is part of a broader narrative by Tinubu that the current administration is “cleaning up the mess” left by past leaders.

The 2027 election cycle has intensified political rivalries. Atiku is the leader of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), a party that is expected to contest the presidential election. Tinubu’s comments are therefore both a critique of past governance and a political attack on a future opponent.

Why it matters

The president’s statements have immediate implications for several stakeholders. For the Nigerian public, the claim that former leaders misappropriated state funds raises concerns about accountability and the allocation of resources. The accusation of a private university being built with public money suggests a breach of ethical standards, potentially affecting public trust in government institutions.

For the political landscape, Tinubu’s remarks target Atiku and the ADC, potentially influencing voter perceptions ahead of the 2027 election. By framing Atiku as a key contributor to hunger and economic decline, Tinubu seeks to strengthen his own position as a reformer who is actively addressing inherited problems.

The comments also touch on the relationship between the federal government and state authorities. Tinubu’s praise for Governor Fubara’s support signals a consolidation of alliances within the APC and the Rainbow Coalition, reinforcing the party’s electoral base in Rivers State.

What happens next

The sources do not indicate any formal legal or investigative actions following Tinubu’s accusations. The remarks were made during a political rally and were not accompanied by a call for an inquiry or a request for evidence. The next steps, therefore, remain political: the APC will continue its campaign activities in Rivers State, and the ADC will likely respond to the allegations in the lead‑up to the 2027 election. No further dates or pending decisions are mentioned in the available reports.