President Bola Tinubu has received a warning from former vice president Atiku Abubakar that distributing food to the populace won’t be sufficient to win support in the upcoming general elections.
According to reports, Atiku expressed his opinions on Tuesday in a statement issued by his assistant, Phrank Shaibu, in which he responded to the government’s continuing relief efforts.
Giving out foods like rice and spaghetti, he argued, would be helpful in the short term but cannot win back voters’ faith during elections.
“Indomie, rice bags, and spaghetti may provide short-term respite, but they cannot secure legitimacy at the ballot box,” Atiku stated.
He expressed worries about the current political situation as well, claiming that the incumbent administration seems to be strengthening its hold on power while reducing the space available for opposition.
He claims that there are indications of concern regarding competition and Nigerians’ response at the polls, despite the fact that many governors support the ruling party.
The former presidential candidate claimed that rather than fostering confidence, control over important institutions has made people uneasy about opposition views and the electorate.
He said, “Nigerians are seeing a growing pattern of actions that suggest not strength, but fear, fear of credible opposition, fear of free competition, and fear of the Nigerian voter, at a time when over 30 state governors have been drawn into the orbit of the ruling party.”
Recent events, he continued, point to attempts to undermine opposition parties through internal problems and legal disputes.
Atiku also denounced the use of state authority, citing instances in which political opponents have been the target of legal actions and detentions.
According to him, such acts are confusing people and casting doubt on the system’s fairness.
He cautioned that if the current state of affairs persists, the nation may transition to a system in which elections are held but there is less actual competition.
He emphasized that the people should freely choose to be leaders rather than exerting pressure on institutions or stifling dissenting opinions.
As the next election draws near, Atiku advised Nigerians to remain vigilant, stating that the people must be given the opportunity to choose their leaders in a fair manner.
