The All Progressives Congress (APC) has issued a scathing response to recent remarks by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, ex-Rivers State governor Rotimi Amaechi, and former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai, accusing them of hypocrisy and desperation in their criticism of President Bola Tinubu’s economic policies.

 

In a strongly worded statement released on June 2, 2025, APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, dismissed allegations that the Tinubu-led government was “weaponizing poverty,” calling the claim baseless and ironic coming from individuals who, he said, collectively failed to address poverty despite holding key public offices for over two decades.

 

The controversial comments were reportedly made at a public lecture in Abuja marking Amaechi’s 60th birthday on May 31, where the trio criticized Tinubu’s economic reforms and governance style.

 

“This celebration quickly dissolved into an occasion for Amaechi, Atiku, and El-Rufai—leading displaced rent-seekers—to showcase their frenzied desperation to grab power purely for their self-aggrandizement,” Morka stated.

 

He accused the trio of contributing significantly to Nigeria’s economic challenges, citing their combined 24 years in public office and claiming they left little behind in terms of poverty alleviation or structural reform.

 

The APC particularly targeted Amaechi, who served for 24 consecutive years as Speaker, Governor, and Minister, claiming he had “no record of attempting to combat poverty” in Rivers State or at the federal level. The party mocked his widely circulated quote, “I am hungry,” interpreting it as a metaphor for his alleged desire to return to government patronage.

 

“That he is hungry barely two years out of office simply underscores the depth of the self-serving motivations of Amaechi and his coalition partners,” the statement read.

 

The APC also accused Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, both critics of Tinubu’s policies, of benefiting from an import-dependent system that enriched them while undermining the Nigerian economy.

 

“Atiku, a former customs officer, and Obi, a successful importer, reaped enormous benefits from the old system. Their criticisms reek of special interest masqueraded as concern for the people,” the party added.

 

Defending the Tinubu administration’s economic reforms—such as the removal of fuel subsidies and unification of foreign exchange rates—the APC claimed they were necessary to reverse decades of poor policy decisions that contributed to Nigeria’s economic stagnation.

 

Morka cited 4.6% GDP growth in Q4 2024, declining imports, rising exports, and an increase in minimum wage from ₦30,000 to ₦70,000 as proof of success, saying Nigeria is now moving from a “consumption-laden to a production-oriented economic powerhouse.”

 

The party also praised local industrial growth, particularly referencing the Dangote Refinery and increased manufacturing activity in the South East as key indicators of a rebounding economy.

 

The statement concluded by reaffirming President Tinubu’s commitment to reforms despite temporary hardships, accusing political opponents of clinging to a corrupt, inefficient system for personal gain.

 

“President Tinubu is on course, and will not be distracted by the selfish partisan rambling of some hardened political opportunists,” Morka stated.

 

This fiery exchange marks an escalation in internal political tensions, especially within the APC fold, as influential figures like Amaechi and El-Rufai appear increasingly critical of Tinubu’s leadership. Political observers say it may be an early indication of power realignment ahead of 2027.