Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has criticised the recent distribution of relief materials to Northern states by Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, describing the initiative as a politically motivated response to worsening economic hardship.
The intervention, which involved 100 trucks of rice and N1.2 billion in cash support, was flagged off in Kaduna and targeted vulnerable households across the 19 Northern states and the Federal Capital Territory ahead of the Eid-el-Kabir celebrations.
In a statement issued Friday in Abuja by his aide, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku argued that the programme reflects a growing trend of using welfare initiatives for political advantage rather than addressing the root causes of poverty.
According to him, rising inflation and declining purchasing power have left millions of Nigerians struggling to afford basic necessities, accusing the government of normalising hardship through what he described as “optics over substance.”
Atiku further linked the worsening food insecurity in Northern Nigeria to persistent insecurity and reduced agricultural productivity, noting that many farmers have been forced off their lands, thereby weakening food supply chains.
While the First Lady maintained that the initiative was driven by compassion and the spirit of the festive season, Atiku insisted that such interventions fail to provide long-term solutions, warning against what he termed the “weaponisation of hunger” for political gain.
He also referenced previous relief efforts involving the President’s son, Seyi Tinubu, suggesting a pattern of politically driven aid distribution.
The former presidential candidate called on Nigerians to reject what he described as “politics of survival” and instead demand sustainable economic policies and accountable governance.
