Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the African Democratic Congress presidential candidate, has condemned Nigeria’s rising living costs and insecurity, pledging to make life more affordable and restore security if entrusted with leading the country.
Atiku made the pledge in a post on his official X account on Wednesday, urging registered voters to collect their Permanent Voter Cards ahead of the upcoming general election.
The former vice president said Nigerians of all age groups were facing economic hardship and increasing security concerns.
“My fellow Nigerians, young and old, I know the pain you are carrying,” Atiku wrote.
He regretted that parents were concerned about providing food for their children, while pensioners had to make difficult decisions between buying food and obtaining medicines.
The former vice-president also voiced concern about the financial hardships confronting young Nigerians, observing that many workers could barely afford their basic necessities despite their earnings.
“Young people work hard, yet transport, rent, and basic needs consume what they earn,” he said.
Atiku also decried the persistent threat of kidnapping and attacks across the country, saying many families lived in fear for the safety of their loved ones.
“And across the country, families live with the fear of kidnapping, attacks, and whether their loved ones will return home safely,” he added.
He said Nigerians should not be forced to endure hunger and insecurity simultaneously, warning against allowing the prevailing challenges to become the future inherited by younger generations.
“No family should have to face hunger and insecurity at the same time. We cannot allow this hardship and fear to become the future our children inherit,” Atiku stated.
Urging eligible voters to participate in the electoral process, he urged registered voters to collect and safeguard their PVCs, describing the cards as instruments for demanding change through peaceful democratic participation.
“If you are a registered voter, please go and collect your PVC. Hold on to it. It is your voice, your choice, and your peaceful power to demand change,” he said.
Atiku, a former presidential candidate in previous elections, held President Bola Tinubu’s administration responsible for the rising cost of living and vowed to reverse the trend.
“Bola made life expensive. I will work to make life affordable again and restore the security every Nigerian deserves,” he said.
He appealed for unity among all generations, encouraging Nigerians to back his vision of a nation where families could live in safety and dignity.
“Let us stand together, across generations, and vote for a Nigeria where every family can live with dignity, safety, and hope,” he added.
