Presidency Dismisses Atiku’s Warning of Hunger-Led Revolution as “Cheap Talk”

The Presidency on Monday rejected former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s warning that Nigeria risked unrest similar to the French Revolution due to rising hunger, describing his comments as “cheap talk” and disconnected from Nigeria’s current economic realities.

Atiku, who lost the 2023 presidential election to Bola Tinubu, had likened worsening hunger and hardship to conditions that triggered the 1789 French Revolution and the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution in Russia.

In a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the Presidency insisted that recent data from the National Bureau of Statistics showed the economy was on a path of recovery.

According to the statement, headline inflation dropped for the fifth consecutive month in August, while Nigeria recorded a historic trade surplus, with non-oil exports almost matching crude oil at a 48:52 ratio. Foreign reserves also reportedly climbed to nearly $42bn, up from $32bn when Tinubu assumed office, following the settlement of more than $7bn in arrears, including $800m owed to foreign airlines.

“Under President Tinubu, Nigeria is recording unprecedented revenues. States are now able to pay salaries and gratuities promptly and still have surplus funds for capital and social projects—an achievement not previously witnessed at this scale. Nigeria is moving in the right direction” the Presidency said.

It accused Atiku and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party of ignoring these gains while focusing on what it called “doomsday scenarios.” The statement added: “Ironically, many of today’s challenges stem from economic mismanagement during the PDP years, when Atiku was Vice President. President Tinubu and his team are working tirelessly to correct those errors through bold reforms.”

Since taking office, Tinubu has introduced major economic reforms including fuel subsidy removal and exchange rate unification. While government officials argue these steps are stabilising state finances and boosting investment, critics contend they have worsened food inflation and poverty.

“We are proud of the progress being made under President Tinubu’s leadership. Atiku and his allies may choose to ignore these gains, but Nigerians can see and feel the positive changes taking place across the nation” Onanuga stated.