As Nigeria marks its 65th independence anniversary on Wednesday, October 1, 2025, Opposition leader and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has praised the resilience of Nigerians in the face of what he called worsening economic hardship and insecurity, while accusing the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration of abandoning citizens to their fate.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by his media aide, Paul Ibe, Atiku lamented that Nigerians continued to grapple with harsh realities such as rising food scarcity, mass unemployment, and growing insecurity.
“Nigerians are enduring excruciating pains from raging insecurity, rising food scarcity, mass unemployment, and a dangerous climate of hopelessness, all compounded by the insensitivity of the APC-led administration,” he said.
Atiku described the situation as tragic, noting that millions of citizens have been reduced to “refugees and beggars in their fatherland” despite Nigeria’s abundant human and natural resources.
“Every responsible government holds the welfare and security of its citizens as supreme. But what we have today is an administration that has abandoned its people. Hunger is killing Nigerians, bandits are massacring communities, yet President Tinubu and his cabinet stand by, unmoved and uncaring,” he added.
The former vice president, who was the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, urged Nigerians not to lose faith, stressing that the democratic process provides an opportunity for change.
“The beauty of democracy lies in the power of the ballot. Oppressed and battered as our people may feel today, they will have the chance to sweep away this inept government at the next polls. That is the power no cabal can take away from the people,” Atiku stated.
He further argued that Nigeria’s slow progress over the decades is a direct result of poor leadership and wasteful governance.
“At 65, Nigeria remains a giant moving painfully slow on the feet of clay, a direct result of decades of poor leadership and wasteful governance,” he said.
Nevertheless, Atiku maintained that with the right leadership, the country can still rise above its challenges and reclaim its rightful place among the comity of nations.
“With the right leadership, the nation can overcome years of failed governance and reclaim its rightful position among the community of nations,” he assured.
Atiku concluded by extending his best wishes to Nigerians, saying, “He wishes Nigerians a happy 65th Independence Day anniversary celebration.”
