‘People are still hungry’ — Atiku’s aide knocks Tinubu’s Independence Day speech

Phrank Shaibu, special assistant on public communication to Atiku Abubakar, has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s Independence Day speech, saying it does not reflect the realities confronting Nigerians.

In his address, Tinubu said Nigeria has now turned the corner after his administration “inherited a near-collapsed economy caused by decades of fiscal policy distortions and misalignment that had impaired real growth”.

In a statement issued afterwards, Shaibu said Tinubu’s claims of progress in education, healthcare, the economy, and security have been contradicted by the lived experiences of citizens.

“The yam may be plentiful, but if the pot is empty, the stomach still rumbles. Today, Nigeria’s pot is not only empty but cracked — and the people remain hungry,” he said.

He faulted the president’s remarks on education, arguing that many pupils still learn under harsh conditions while teachers struggle with poor salaries.

“A man who builds many huts without roofs has only built shade for goats,” Shaibu said.

On healthcare, he said Nigerians still provide candles, syringes, and drugs before receiving treatment in hospitals.

Shaibu also criticised the government’s economic reforms, saying food prices have skyrocketed, transportation costs have overwhelmed households, and many families eat less than one meal a day.

“If these are the ‘seeds’ of reform, then the fruit is still bitter,” he said.

The opposition spokesman said Tinubu’s claims on security are hollow, pointing to the killing of Somtochukwu Maduagwu, an Arise TV journalist, in a robbery incident in Abuja this week.

“A farmer cannot boast the bush is cleared while weeds still choke his yam,” Shaibu added.

He said the administration’s claims of disbursing billions to poor households are not felt by citizens.

“If the yam was truly cooked, neighbours would perceive the aroma,” he said.

Shaibu added that Nigerian youths, instead of thriving, are forced to sell sachet water or ride motorcycles for survival.

“You cannot tell a child to dream big while you steal the mat he sleeps on,” he said.

He urged the government to reflect honestly on the state of the country, adding that anniversaries should be moments of sober reflection rather than self-praise.

“Nigeria is 65 years old. But our leaders still serve promises as though they were meals. The yam is there, but the pot remains empty,” Shaibu added.