President Bola Tinubu has blamed the opposition for the hunger and poverty confronting Nigerians, insisting that his administration is working to tackle the challenges.
Tinubu made the remarks on Saturday during the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign flag-off at the Ranchers Bees Stadium, also known as Kaduna Township Stadium, as he formally launched his bid for re-election in the 2027 general elections.
The campaign flag-off in Kaduna marks the beginning of the APC’s mobilisation efforts ahead of the next presidential election.
Addressing supporters at the rally, the president dismissed the opposition’s criticism of his administration over the rising cost of living, accusing its members of being responsible for the economic difficulties they now highlight.
“I have heard the opposition talking about hunger and poverty. Who caused them? They did! They caused hunger and poverty. We are trying to eliminate them,” he said.
Tinubu also urged Nigerians not to be misled by opposition politicians, particularly over his administration’s decision to remove the petrol subsidy, which has remained a major subject of public debate amid rising living costs.
The president insisted that the country would not return to the previous subsidy regime, arguing that its continuation encouraged corruption, fraudulent invoicing and fuel smuggling.
“Be careful; watch them. Don’t let them lie to you. What is past is in the past,” he told the crowd.
“Fuel subsidy is in our past: no more corruption, no more falsification of invoices, no more lies, no more smuggling of fuel,” he added.
The president’s remarks come amid persistent concerns over high food prices, inflation and the declining purchasing power of households, with economic hardship expected to remain a major issue in the build-up to the 2027 general elections.
The opposition has repeatedly criticised the Tinubu administration over the impact of its economic reforms on ordinary Nigerians, particularly the removal of the petrol subsidy and the resulting increase in transportation and living costs.