Former Vice-President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar (Waziri Adamawa), has called on Nigerians to remain resilient and politically engaged, describing 2025 as one of the most difficult years in the country’s recent history and urging citizens to prepare for change ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a New Year message titled “Dear Fellow Nigerians” to mark the beginning of 2026, Atiku criticised the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government, accusing it of economic mismanagement, poor governance and a lack of empathy toward the suffering of citizens.
He said 2025 was marked by economic hardship, rising insecurity and what he described as reckless governance, alleging that the administration of President Bola Tinubu governed for months without a functional budget while relying heavily on borrowing and public relations.
The former Vice-President also condemned what he referred to as a scandal involving a forged tax law, describing it as emblematic of governance failure and a disregard for due legislative and legal processes. According to him, reforms rooted in illegality cannot yield prosperity.
Atiku further alleged that Nigeria’s democratic foundations were weakened during the year, accusing the ruling party of attempting to undermine multiparty democracy through intimidation, coercion and state capture. He expressed concern over what he described as growing intolerance for dissent and public criticism.
On the economy, he said government claims of meeting revenue targets contrasted sharply with realities on the ground, including rising unemployment, labour unrest, business closures and worsening poverty. He noted that small and medium-scale enterprises, which form the backbone of job creation, were particularly hard hit.
The former Vice-President also lamented worsening insecurity, citing increased cases of kidnappings, abductions and violent crimes across the country, which he said claimed lives, destroyed livelihoods and left communities traumatised.
Despite these challenges, Atiku said Nigeria endured not because of effective governance but due to the resilience of its people. He criticised repeated calls for citizens to make sacrifices, arguing that such demands were unjust when leaders remained insulated from hardship and continued to live in comfort.
He also questioned the credibility of the government’s anti-corruption campaign, describing it as selective and politically motivated. He alleged that institutions such as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) were being used to target opposition figures while allies of the government were shielded from scrutiny.
Looking ahead, Atiku warned that a government accused of tampering with laws could not be trusted to conduct free and fair elections, but insisted that Nigerians must not surrender to despair.
He urged citizens to reject division along ethnic or religious lines and instead embrace unity, engagement and peaceful democratic action. According to him, 2026 should be a year of mobilisation and preparation, while 2027 should mark the moment of decisive change through the ballot.
“Nigeria deserves better. Nigerians deserve dignity,” he said, calling on citizens to organise, vote and defend their votes in the next general election.
