Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has strongly criticised First Lady Remi Tinubu over a recent palliative initiative involving the distribution of 100 trucks of rice and ₦1.2 billion worth of food support to northern states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The initiative, unveiled on Thursday, is part of ongoing efforts by the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to cushion the effects of economic hardship on citizens.
However, Atiku, speaking through his spokesperson Phrank Shaibu, dismissed the move as a calculated political display rather than a genuine solution to the country’s deepening crisis.
He argued that the government is normalising poverty by relying on highly publicized aid distributions instead of tackling the root causes of economic distress.
According to him, rising inflation and declining purchasing power have left many Nigerian families struggling to afford even basic meals, pushing millions closer to extreme hardship.
Atiku further claimed that insecurity and policy missteps since 2023 have significantly disrupted agricultural production in northern Nigeria.
He noted that many farmers have abandoned their lands due to safety concerns, weakening food supply chains and worsening scarcity.
Food Politics
In his view, the same conditions created by these challenges are now being leveraged for political gain through selective food distribution programs.
He maintained that what Nigerians need are long-term, sustainable policies that ensure food security—not what he described as symbolic relief efforts tied to political messaging.
He also referenced a similar initiative carried out during the previous Ramadan by the president’s son, Seyi Tinubu, who distributed food items across parts of the North.
Atiku characterised that effort as an early sign of what he believes has now evolved into a broader strategy of using welfare as political theatre.
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Concluding his remarks, Atiku stressed that Nigerians deserve lasting economic solutions rather than intermittent handouts, insisting that citizens should not be reduced to dependence amid worsening living conditions.