By Ade Oyeyemi
Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has called on President Bola Tinubu to address the grievances surrounding the case of detained Indigenous People of Biafra leader, Nnamdi Kanu, while demanding answers over the continued detention of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, and Sheikh Sani Khalifa Zaria.
Atiku made the demands on Thursday in his Independence Day address to Nigerians as the country marked its 66th anniversary.
The ADC presidential candidate said the Federal Government must uphold the rule of law and ensure that citizens facing prosecution or detention were accorded due process.
“On this day, I call for the rule of law to be applied fairly in every case. The continued detention of Sheikh Sani Khalifa Zaria and Mallam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai raises questions about due process that the authorities must answer,” he said.
On Kanu, Atiku urged the government to respect his right to appeal following his conviction, while also calling for the grievances surrounding the separatist leader’s case to be addressed.
“Following Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s conviction, his right to lawful appeal must be respected, while the grievances and divisions surrounding his case must be addressed seriously,” he said.
He also renewed his demand for the release of five young Nigerians arrested in Borno State over their alleged involvement in wearing T-shirts with the inscription, “Tinubu Must Go.”
According to Atiku, political expression should not be used as grounds for imprisonment.
“A political slogan on a shirt must never become a reason to imprison a Nigerian,” he said.
Atiku faults Tinubu’s economic policies
Reflecting on the state of the nation, Atiku accused the Tinubu administration of worsening economic hardship, saying Nigerians were struggling with rising prices of food, transportation and other essential goods.
He argued that the country had drifted from the aspirations of its founding leaders, particularly over the past three years.
“The past three years under Bola Tinubu have plunged Nigeria into the most severe cost of living crisis in our history. Families are not merely tightening their belts. They are skipping meals, delaying treatment and borrowing to survive until payday,” he said.
Atiku also criticised the President’s Independence Day assertion that Nigeria had entered an “age of prosperity,” arguing that government declarations must be matched by improvements in the lives of citizens.
“A president may announce a new chapter in a speech. He cannot put food onto a family’s table or money into a worker’s pocket,” he said.
The former Vice President further faulted the extension of the implementation period of the 2025 capital budget to December 31, 2026.
President Tinubu signed the Appropriation (Amendment) (No. 4) Bill, 2025, into law on Wednesday, extending the implementation deadline from September 30 to December 31, 2026. The Presidency said the move would allow Ministries, Departments and Agencies to complete ongoing capital projects.
Questioning the arrangement, Atiku said, “How many budgets must be open at once before you can tell the country what was funded, what was completed and what remains unpaid?”
He argued that the budget should serve as a clear framework for delivering projects and services rather than having implementation repeatedly carried over from one year to another.
Cash transfers under scrutiny
Atiku also demanded greater transparency over the Federal Government’s reported cash transfers to vulnerable Nigerians.
He referred to the claim by the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Nentawe Yilwatda, that more than 10 million Nigerians had received N75,000 each.
Atiku questioned how the beneficiaries were identified and paid, particularly in parts of Borno and Yobe affected by insecurity.
“If you could find ten million people to pay, you can account for the payments,” he said, demanding that the government publish details of the transactions.
The ADC candidate also cited increases in the prices of petrol, eggs and bread as evidence of the pressure on household incomes.
He said the increase in the minimum wage had not translated into a corresponding improvement in purchasing power because of inflation and rising living costs.
Atiku also criticised the removal of the petrol subsidy, arguing that Nigerians were not adequately protected from the resulting economic shock.
Atiku promises fuel subsidy if elected
The former Vice President said he would introduce a capped and budgeted production subsidy if elected president in 2027.
According to him, the proposed subsidy would be tied to verified petrol refined in Nigeria, including products from modular refineries, while imported petrol would be excluded.
He said his proposed administration would publish the cost of the scheme, subject payments to independent audits and reduce government waste to help finance the programme.
Atiku also challenged the President over the promise to reduce transportation costs from October 1.
“Before I forget, you promised Nigerians lower transport fares from October 1. Today is October 1. Did your promise miss the bus?” he asked.
On borrowing, Atiku said the government should explain what existing loans had achieved before seeking additional funds.
He also questioned the procurement process for the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project and called for the publication of documents relating to the contract award, including bids, evaluations and variations.
The former Vice President further alleged that some contractors who had completed government projects were still awaiting payment, while military pensioners and federal workers were owed outstanding entitlements.
Atiku speaks on security, 2027 poll
Atiku said the government’s responsibility included making life affordable and protecting Nigerians from insecurity.
He referred to the recent stampede at the Niger State Government House, in which three people reportedly died, and called for an account of how the gathering was organised.
Turning to the 2027 general election, the ADC presidential candidate pledged to respect the independence of the Independent National Electoral Commission and support the prompt publication of results from polling units.
He also said anyone found guilty of vote-buying or manipulating election results should face prosecution regardless of political affiliation.
“Your vote must count as you cast it. You should not need powerful friends to make it count,” Atiku said.
He urged Nigerians to use their votes to determine the country’s political direction, declaring, “The message is clear: Tinubu must go.”
