Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has criticized President Bola Tinubu for attempting to scapegoat the media regarding the nation’s ongoing economic and security challenges. Speaking through his aide, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku compared this government tactic to attacking a thermometer for reading a high fever, asserting that ignoring reality does not solve underlying crises.
The former Vice President stated that the administration is disconnected from the struggles of everyday citizens. He argued that Nigerians are acutely aware of their own suffering—evidenced by rising food costs, unemployment, and inflation—without needing reports from journalists to confirm their own poverty. According to Atiku, the administration’s focus on controlling narratives rather than addressing policy failures is both insulting and dangerous.
Addressing the insecurity crisis, Atiku rejected the notion that the media is responsible for the violence plaguing the nation. He pointed out that massacres in Plateau, killings in Benue, and widespread kidnapping are tangible events not created by news organizations. He emphasized that farmers, traders, and parents are living through these threats daily and do not rely on media validation to understand the severity of their circumstances.
Atiku concluded by challenging the government to take responsibility for its own policy outcomes, such as the devaluation of the naira and controversial contract awards, rather than attacking those who report on the resulting consequences. He warned that the administration’s refusal to face the truth is only delaying necessary solutions for the country.
