‘Nigerians Don’t Live On Petrol, They Live On Income’ — Atiku Blasts Tinubu Over Bayelsa Remarks

The Atiku Media Office has criticised President Bola Tinubu over his recent remarks in Bayelsa, stating that Nigerians’ economic realities were defined more by income levels than petrol prices.

In a press statement issued and signed on Saturday by the Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication to former vice president Atiku Abubakar, Phrank Shaibu, the media office said the President’s comments were “misleading” and a “grave distortion” of the lived realities of Nigerians, accusing him of misrepresenting the country’s economic realities by comparing fuel prices with those of other nations

The statement said it was “both curious and troubling” that the President chose to isolate fuel prices as a measure of economic well-being while ignoring more critical indicators such as purchasing power, income levels, and the cost of living.

“This selective reasoning betrays either a fundamental misunderstanding of economic realities or a deliberate attempt to deflect from policy failures,” the statement read.

While acknowledging that petrol prices in Nigeria may appear lower than in countries like Kenya and South Africa, the media office argued that such comparisons failed when placed against broader economic conditions.

“Yes, petrol prices in Nigeria may appear lower than in countries like Kenya or South Africa. But this comparison collapses instantly when placed against the backdrop of economic realities,” it stated.

According to the statement, Nigeria is now more expensive to live in than Kenya, despite lower fuel prices, due to a significant gap in earning power between the two countries.

“Kenya’s GDP per capita is nearly double that of Nigeria, and a minimum wage earner in Nairobi takes home the equivalent of about ₦170,000—more than twice Nigeria’s ₦70,000,” it said.

“In effect, while a Kenyan earns more and pays more, a Nigerian earns far less and is forced to survive under crushing economic pressure. This is the reality the President chose to ignore.”

The media office further criticised Nigeria’s wage structure, noting that unlike Kenya’s tiered system, Nigeria maintains a rigid national minimum wage that does not reflect regional disparities in cost of living.

“The implication is clear: affordability is not defined by price alone, but by the relationship between income and expenditure. On this measure, Nigerians have never had it worse,” the statement added.

It described as “deeply disappointing” the President’s approach to the economic situation, arguing that citizens expect empathy, clarity, and decisive leadership rather than what it termed “statistical convenience.”

“A government that relies on selective comparisons while its citizens grapple with rising poverty, inflation, and declining living standards risks appearing not only out of touch, but indifferent,” it stated.

The media office stressed that Nigerians are demanding tangible relief rather than comparisons.

“Nigerians are not asking for comparisons—they are demanding relief.”

It urged the administration to confront what it described as the full scope of the economic crisis instead of relying on arguments that “collapse under the weight of facts.”

“Nigerians deserve honesty. Nigerians deserve better,” the statement concluded.