Former Vice President of Nigeria and presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, has extended New Year greetings to Nigerians as the country steps into 2026, using the occasion to reflect on what he described as one of the most difficult years in the nation’s recent history.
In his New Year message, Atiku said the end of 2025 came as a relief to millions of Nigerians who endured what he characterised as economic suffocation, political recklessness, and governance devoid of empathy under the administration of President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress.
According to him, 2025 was marked by severe economic distress that exposed what he termed the incompetence and policy bankruptcy of the current administration. He criticised the Federal Government for governing for several months without a functional budget, while relying heavily on propaganda and excessive borrowing, actions he said pushed the country dangerously close to economic collapse.
Atiku noted that one of the most troubling symbols of governance failure during the year was the controversy surrounding a forged tax law, which the government reportedly presented as a reform initiative. He described the incident as a grave affront to the rule of law and democratic norms, adding that the President’s alleged refusal to allow proper legislative and judicial scrutiny of the matter was deeply disturbing.
“A government that begins reform with forgery cannot end with prosperity,” he said, stressing that respect for due process remains fundamental to sustainable development.
Beyond economic concerns, Atiku warned that Nigeria’s democratic foundations were significantly weakened in 2025. He accused the ruling party of deliberately working to undermine multiparty democracy through intimidation, coercion, and the capture of state institutions, with the ultimate aim of turning Nigeria into a de facto one-party state.
He further faulted the government’s fiscal claims, stating that while public debt continued to rise sharply, authorities falsely asserted that revenue targets had been met. According to him, these claims did not reflect the lived realities of Nigerians who faced rising unemployment, inflation, and declining purchasing power.
On security, the former Vice President said the situation deteriorated markedly over the past year, with kidnappings, abductions, and violent crimes becoming more widespread. He lamented that Nigerians of all ages were affected, communities were terrorised, and livelihoods destroyed, while official assurances of improved security remained largely rhetorical.
Atiku also highlighted the economic consequences of insecurity and poor policy choices, noting that small and medium-scale enterprises, regarded as the backbone of job creation, continued to shut down. He said industries closed, workers were retrenched, labour unrest intensified, and hunger became increasingly widespread.
Despite these challenges, he acknowledged the resilience of Nigerians, stating that the country survived the year not because of effective governance, but because of the endurance and sacrifices of its people. He described the New Year message as one of the most painful he had ever delivered, given the depth of despair confronting millions.
The former Vice President criticised repeated calls by government officials for citizens to make sacrifices, arguing that sacrifice becomes unjust when demanded by leaders who live in comfort and luxury, insulated from the suffering of the populace. He stressed that true leadership requires shared pain and empathy.
“Leadership without shared pain is not leadership; it is exploitation,” Atiku said, adding that the widening gap between the ruling elite and ordinary citizens contradicts the core principles of democracy.
He also accused the administration of arrogance and intolerance of dissent, claiming it has shown open contempt for public opinion, hostility toward criticism, and a willingness to impose policies that inflict hardship on citizens. According to him, such conduct reveals a government fundamentally disconnected from the people it is meant to serve.
Atiku warned that an administration willing to tamper with or forge laws cannot be trusted to conduct free, fair, and credible elections, raising concerns about the integrity of the 2027 general elections.
Nonetheless, he urged Nigerians not to surrender to despair. He called on citizens to channel their frustrations into constructive civic engagement, reminding them that democracy provides a peaceful and lawful means to change a failing government through the ballot.
He appealed to Nigerians to resist manipulation along ethnic or religious lines, stressing that division only benefits those who profit from public suffering. According to him, national unity remains the most potent tool for rescue and renewal.
Atiku also dismissed the government’s anti-corruption campaign as selective and politically motivated, alleging that it has been weaponised to harass opposition figures rather than genuinely address systemic corruption.
As the New Year begins, he called on Nigerians to remain vigilant, united, and committed to democratic values. He expressed confidence that with collective resolve and courage, the country can overcome its present challenges and reclaim a future anchored on justice, accountability, and shared prosperity.
He concluded by wishing Nigerians strength and hope in 2026, urging them to believe in their power as citizens to shape the destiny of the nation peacefully and decisively.
