Atiku Slams First Lady’s Rice Palliative Programme

Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar has criticised the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over the distribution of food palliatives in Northern Nigeria, describing the initiative as political theatre rather than genuine governance.

In a statement issued in Abuja through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku accused the government of “weaponising hunger and poverty” through relief distribution programmes.

The criticism follows the recent launch of a large-scale intervention by the First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, involving the distribution of 100 trucks of rice and ₦1.2 billion worth of palliatives to Northern states and the Federal Capital Territory.

Shaibu, speaking on Atiku’s behalf, described the exercise as “a carefully staged political performance built on the suffering of Nigerians,” arguing that it reflects what he called the normalisation of poverty under the current administration.

He further accused the government of prioritising optics over structural reforms, insisting that widespread hardship was being exploited for political advantage.

According to the statement, Atiku said agricultural productivity in Northern Nigeria has declined significantly since 2023 due to insecurity and policy failures, which have displaced farmers and disrupted food supply chains.

He alleged that instead of addressing these challenges, the government has resorted to distributing food items in what he described as “campaign-style ceremonies.”

Atiku also referenced earlier Ramadan relief efforts involving Seyi Tinubu, son of the President, describing them as part of a broader pattern of politicising hunger.

He said what began as isolated charity gestures has now evolved into what he called a sustained political strategy built around public dependency.

The former Vice President warned that reliance on palliatives undermines democratic accountability and reduces citizens to recipients of handouts rather than active participants in governance.

He stressed that Nigeria’s economic challenges require long-term structural solutions rather than temporary relief measures.

“These are not problems that can be solved with trucks of rice,” the statement read, adding that what the country needs is “bold, coherent, and people-centred economic reform.”

Atiku urged Nigerians to reject what he termed “stomach infrastructure politics” and demand leadership focused on food security, economic stability, and improved living standards.

He concluded that “governance, not gestures,” must define the nation’s leadership approach moving forward.