‘They Can’t Even Keep A Speech Confidential’, Atiku Taunts Tinubu, Says His Govt Has Failed

• Atiku Abubakar criticized President Tinubu’s administration for “failure on all fronts,” highlighting the premature leak of his nationwide broadcast
• He condemned the government’s response to protests, stating the speech lacked substance and failed to address the suffering of Nigerians

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has criticized the current administration, accusing it of “failure on all fronts.” The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the last election taunted President Bola Tinubu over the premature release of his nationwide broadcast, which was made public before the scheduled time.

Ajuri Ngelale, presidential spokesman, announced late Saturday that Tinubu would address the nation at 7 a.m. on Sunday. However, the text of the pre-recorded broadcast meant to be released to the media with a 7:30 a.m. embargo for inclusion in their Sunday editions, leaked online around midnight. This resulted in many people reading along with the president during the actual broadcast.

In response to the address, Atiku condemned the presidency for failing to keep the speech confidential. “This administration has failed on all fronts, even in keeping a presidential speech confidential,” Atiku said in a statement issued by Paul Ibe, his media adviser. The premature leak of this speech, allowing Nigerians to read along with the President in real time, starkly illustrates the dwindling confidence in this administration.”

Atiku described the broadcast as hollow and inadequate in addressing the suffering of Nigerians, noting that it did not meet the protesters’ demands. “This address lacks credibility and fails to offer any immediate, tangible solutions to the Nigerian people. Given the extensive publicity surrounding the protests and the threats issued by government officials against demonstrators, one would have expected President Tinubu to present groundbreaking reforms, particularly those aimed at reducing the excessive governance costs.”

He criticized the speech’s lack of concrete actions, such as suspending the purchase of aircraft for the president, downsizing the bloated cabinet, or eliminating the costly office of the First Lady. “In his lacklustre recorded speech, President Tinubu offered a superficial account of his so-called reforms, revealing his tenuous grasp of policy as he failed to convince his audience.”

Atiku urged the president and his team to acknowledge their failures over the past 14 months and abandon the theory that the opposition orchestrates the protests. “While the President has spoken, it is unfortunate that his words lack substance and respect for the protesters’ sentiments, leaving Nigerians with little faith in his reform agenda – if one exists at all,” the statement read.