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Atiku Condemns Economic Hardship Pushing Nigerian Youths to Sell Their Kidneys

September 10, 2026September 4, 2026 by admin

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has expressed concern over the reported rise in cases of young Nigerians selling their kidneys as they struggle to cope with the country’s worsening cost-of-living crisis, attributing the situation to the economic policies of President Bola Tinubu’s administration. The Africa Democratic Congress presidential candidate, in a post on X on Thursday, said he had heard “disturbing stories” of young Nigerians resorting to selling body organs, particularly kidneys, in desperate attempts to raise money. “I have heard disturbing stories about the extent to which young Nigerians are being driven simply to survive. Perhaps the most horrifying are the growing reports of young people selling parts of their bodies: kidneys in particular, in desperate attempts to raise money,” Atiku wrote. He said young Nigerians ought to be “selling dreams, ideas and innovation, not their body organs,” adding that the trend should “offend the conscience of every Nigerian.” Atiku claimed that young Nigerians were reportedly being driven to sell their kidneys for as little as ₦1.7m, a figure he did not attribute to any specific report or agency. PUNCH could not independently verify the figure as of the time of this report. The former Vice President linked the trend to the rising cost of living under the Tinubu administration, listing food, transport, rent, school fees, medicine and electricity as items that have become increasingly unaffordable for ordinary Nigerians. He said, “In Tinubu’s Nigeria, almost everything required to live with dignity is becoming more expensive by the day: food, transport, rent, school fees, medicine and electricity. “Yet young Nigerians are reportedly being driven to sell their kidneys for as little as ₦1.7 million. “That should break the heart of a nation. “Young Nigerians should be building careers, starting businesses, raising families and pursuing their dreams, not calculating how much parts of their bodies can fetch simply to stay alive. “When young Nigerians begin to see their kidneys as emergency savings, we are no longer talking about ordinary economic hardship. We are talking about desperation at its most frightening.” Atiku acknowledged that Nigeria already has laws prohibiting commercial organ sales and organ trafficking, but argued that “laws alone cannot cure the poverty and desperation that make vulnerable young people easy prey for criminal networks.” He called for economic reforms with “a human face,” including affordable food, cheaper transportation, accessible healthcare, decent jobs and “renewed hope for the next generation.” The former Vice President capped the statement with a direct jab at the President: “Tinubu made Nigeria expensive. I will make Nigeria affordable again.” Atiku’s remarks come amid a spate of reports and unverified claims about organ trafficking in parts of the country in recent weeks. The Nigeria Police Force recently paraded four suspects, including two nephrologists, over the alleged operation. Police said one of the suspects, Emmanuel Ode, allegedly admitted to recruiting victims and disclosed that a 22-year-old man had been lured to a hospital in Abuja in April, where his kidney was allegedly harvested for $1,250, equivalent to about N1.7m. Investigators said the alleged syndicate targeted vulnerable and financially desperate young people in Nasarawa and neighbouring areas.

Atiku: We’ll Move Nigerian Youths From Palliatives to Prosperity

September 11, 2026August 29, 2026 by admin

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has pledged to establish a $100 billion financing programme to support start-ups and entrepreneurs if elected president. Atiku, who made the promise in a statement posted on his X handle on Saturday, said young Nigerians need a government that creates opportunities for them to prosper rather than one that teaches them how to cope with economic hardship. He said the cost-of-living crisis had reduced the purchasing power of millions of Nigerians, weakened small businesses and made it increasingly difficult for young people to access jobs, capital and economic independence. “Nigeria’s young people do not need a government that teaches them how to survive hardship. They need a government that gives them the opportunity to prosper,” he said. According to him, his administration, if elected, will focus on restoring purchasing power, reducing the cost of living and deliberately expanding economic opportunities for young Nigerians. “My commitment is to change that. We will restore purchasing power, reduce the cost of living and deliberately expand opportunities for young Nigerians, including through a $100 billion financing programme for start-ups and entrepreneurs,” Atiku stated. The former Vice President said the objective was to move young Nigerians from dependence to enterprise and from unemployment to productivity. “Our objective is simple: move young Nigerians from dependence to enterprise, from unemployment to productivity, and from palliatives to prosperity,” he said. Atiku disclosed that he made the commitment while receiving a nationwide delegation of N-Power beneficiaries who visited him to declare their support for his presidential candidacy. He said he thanked the delegation for their confidence and assured them that Nigeria’s future could not be built through the distribution of poverty. “I reiterated that Nigeria cannot build its future by distributing poverty. We must build an economy that creates jobs, rewards enterprise and gives every young Nigerian a fair chance to succeed,” he said. Atiku, who is seeking the presidency ahead of the 2027 general election, said Nigerians faced a choice between maintaining an economy that he claimed was shrinking opportunities and building one capable of restoring hope, dignity and prosperity. “The choice before us is between continuing with an economy that shrinks opportunities and building one that restores hope, dignity and prosperity. We will make Nigeria affordable again,” he added.

Atiku Will Restore Petrol Subsidy Before Gradually Phasing It Out — Spokesman

August 25, 2026 by admin

Atiku Abubakar’s spokesperson, Paul Ibe, has said the former Vice-President would reinstate petrol subsidy if elected president in 2027, with plans to gradually discontinue the policy once the economy stabilises. Ibe, who spoke on AIT on Tuesday, said the proposed subsidy would differ from the former subsidy regime, as government support would be tied to crude oil production and domestic refining. He said the policy would provide temporary relief to Nigerians and businesses, stimulate economic activity and improve productivity. “What he’s simply saying is that the subsidy that he is advocating will be tied to the barrel, the crude oil barrel. This is perhaps the only thing that we have in so much abundance that Nigerians have not yet benefited from,” Ibe said. According to him, crude oil would be supplied to local refiners at a discounted price, enabling them to produce petrol and diesel at lower costs, which would translate into reduced pump prices for consumers. “The crude oil will be sold at a discounted price, subsidised to refiners, and that will enable refiners to be able to produce fuel and diesel at a cheap cost. And when they produce cheaply, they will sell at the real pump price,” he said. Ibe said an independent committee would determine the appropriate price of crude oil supplied to refiners, taking prevailing market conditions into account. He added that despite the deregulation of the downstream petroleum sector, government could monitor prices to ensure refiners and marketers operated within the framework of the policy. “There’ll be a window because, of course, we deregulated. You may not fix the price but you can have price monitoring to ensure that everybody aligns with what government hopes to achieve,” he said. Ibe said the intervention would be temporary and aimed at reviving economic activity and increasing productivity. “It is not something that is… It is for a time, and it is essentially to ensure that we jumpstart this economy,” he said. The former vice-president’s spokesman also criticised the administration of President Bola Tinubu for removing petrol subsidy alongside other major economic reforms without allowing the economy sufficient time to adjust. “No surgeon, no doctor would carry out two or more serious major surgeries, one after the other. They would do one, allow the patient to recuperate, and then undertake the second, or the third,” Ibe said. “But what has this administration done? The issue of subsidy, flippant. No cabinet. No advisers. Just in the heat of the moment, it has been removed. No shock absorbers. Nothing. No palliatives. Absolutely nothing.” He argued that the simultaneous removal of petrol subsidy, deregulation of the foreign exchange market and electricity subsidy had worsened the economic hardship faced by Nigerians. Ibe said restoring the intervention would give households and businesses the opportunity to recover and improve productivity. “You need to give Nigerians and give manufacturers an opportunity to ensure that there is productivity,” he said. His comments came amid an ongoing disagreement between Atiku and Tinubu over the former vice-president’s proposal to restore petrol subsidy. Tinubu had previously dismissed Atiku’s proposal as evidence of “serious ignorance on governance and economy.”

Atiku Raises Concern Over Suspicious Deposit Into His Bank Account

August 7, 2026 by admin

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has expressed concern after an unexpected credit was made to one of his personal bank accounts, suggesting that the incident may indicate a compromise of his confidential banking information. Atiku, who is the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, disclosed this in a statement on Friday signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu. The statement said the transfer was made by an individual unknown to the former vice president, with the narration, “Contribution Electioneering Campaign.” “Neither His Excellency nor his campaign solicited, authorised or has any knowledge of the individual or entity behind the unauthorised payment,” the statement read. According to the statement, the circumstances surrounding the transaction were “deeply troubling” as the account was strictly private and its details were not publicly available. “The account is a strictly private one whose details are not in the public domain. This raises a fundamental question: How did unknown persons obtain the confidential banking details of a private citizen?” it added. Atiku said the alleged access to his banking information raised broader concerns about the protection of Nigerians’ financial privacy. “If the private banking information of a former Vice President and a leading presidential candidate can be accessed and deployed for reasons yet unknown then no Nigerian’s financial privacy is safe,” the statement quoted him as saying. The former vice president also expressed concern over the possibility that the information was obtained through individuals with privileged access. “Even more disturbing, is the suspicion that such confidential information may have been obtained through persons with privileged access,” the statement said. Atiku warned that a breach of confidential banking information could expose citizens to security threats. “If established, this would amount to a grave abuse of power capable of exposing the account holder to kidnappers, terrorists, bandits, fraudsters and other criminal elements,” the statement added. The ADC presidential candidate said security agencies and Nigerians had been notified of the development, describing it as part of a series of suspicious activities ahead of the 2027 general elections. “We therefore put the Nigerian public — and the security agencies — on notice about this latest incident in a litany of suspicious activities leading up to next year’s general elections,” he said. Atiku urged Nigerians not to be distracted by what he described as attempts to smear his reputation as political activities intensify ahead of the elections. “As political activities gather momentum, Nigerians should not be distracted by these tired tactics that smack of character assassination,” the statement read. “Such desperate antics have failed before and will fail again,” he added. The former vice president maintained that he remained committed to providing what he described as credible leadership and practical solutions to Nigeria’s challenges. “The Waziri Adamawa remains focused on offering Nigerians credible leadership and practical solutions to the nation’s challenges,” the statement said.

Atiku Slams Tinubu over Poverty, Insecurity

May 29, 2026 by admin

The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has criticized the administration of President Bola Tinubu over the worsening challenges of hunger, poverty, and insecurity across the country. Atiku slams Tinubu over poverty, insecurity The former Vice President stated that Nigerians are facing worsening economic hardship as the Tinubu administration celebrates its third year in office. In a statement issued on Friday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said the country is grappling with soaring food prices, unemployment and declining purchasing power. The statement read, “Three years ago, President Tinubu promised renewed hope. What Nigerians have received instead is renewed hardship, renewed insecurity, renewed poverty, and renewed hopelessness.” He said millions of Nigerians could no longer afford basic necessities, noting that inflation had continued to put pressure on ordinary citizens and businesses. “Today, millions of Nigerians can no longer afford the basic necessities of life. Food prices have skyrocketed beyond the reach of ordinary families. Inflation has become a cruel tax on the poor. Small and medium-scale businesses are shutting their doors. “Never in recent history have so many Nigerians worked so hard only to become poorer,” the statement read. The former Vice President also expressed concern over the country’s economic situation, saying many Nigerians were working harder but becoming poorer. On insecurity, Atiku said recent incidents of kidnappings and attacks in parts of the country had heightened fears among citizens. “The recent abduction of schoolchildren in Borno State and the mass kidnapping of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State are not isolated incidents,” the statement read. He added that Nigerians were increasingly demanding accountability from leaders and urged citizens to use democratic processes to shape the country’s future. “The ballot box remains the most powerful weapon in the hands of the people. It is stronger than propaganda. It is stronger than intimidation. It is stronger than incumbency,” it added. He also said that the ADC would soon unveil a policy blueprint aimed at addressing economic, security and governance challenges facing the country. According to him, the proposed plan would focus on economic recovery, job creation, education, healthcare and reforms in public institutions. “At the end of the day, Nigerians seek leadership that is competent, compassionate, accountable, and genuinely committed to the public good,” the statement added. Recall that the President assured Nigerians that his administration remains committed to improving security across the country, saying efforts by the Armed Forces and security agencies are yielding positive results in many communities. In a Friday statement to mark the end of his third year as president, Tinubu said that security remains central to the nation’s development and prosperity. “Security remains central to our national mission and to the creation of a virile and prosperous society. Our Armed Forces and security agencies have intensified operations against terrorists, bandits, kidnappers, oil thieves, and criminal networks,” he said. The President acknowledged that security challenges still persist in parts of the country but noted that several communities and highways were becoming safer and more economically active due to sustained operations by security agencies. According to him, the Federal Government is investing heavily in intelligence gathering, surveillance, logistics, technology, and inter-agency coordination to strengthen the country’s security architecture. “We are improving the capabilities of our armed forces and security agencies, and reclaiming the authority of the Nigerian state wherever criminality threatens peace and order,” Tinubu stated. He assured Nigerians that the government would continue confronting insecurity until citizens can live and work without fear. “While we continue to confront the challenges head-on, progress is being made. I want to assure you that this government will not relent until every Nigerian can live, work, travel, and dream in safety,” the President added.

Atiku’s Suspension Linked to “Indian Hemp Smoking,” Says Ex-SGF

April 13, 2026 by admin

Babachir Lawal, a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, has urged the public to ignore the alleged suspension of Atiku Abubakar, himself, and others, dismissing the group behind it as “Indian hemp smokers.” Babachir is the Vice Chairman of the African Democratic Congress, North East region. A factional chairman of ADC in the state, Raji Zumo, announced during a press conference on Monday the suspension of Atiku, Lawal and the party’s transition committee chairman, Sadiq Ibrahim. Speaking exclusively to PUNCH, Babachir said, “If some people take heavy Indian hemp, they can claim to be President of Nigeria, so don’t consider them as normal people. Indian hemp is at duty.” He said Raji has no reasonable position in the ADC that empowered him to speak on behalf of the party. “Raji’s actions demonstrated the power of Indian hemp against our young men. What is his position in the party in Adamawa State, if not influence of drugs?” he said. Also speaking, the Adamawa State Chairman of the ADC, Mr. Shehu Yohanna, said the statement credited to Raji was not only baseless but also insisted that he had left the party long ago. “Raji was my deputy, before he disappeared to an unknown place, only for him to resurface on social media on Monday, suspending our father, Atiku Abubakar,” he said. An Adamawa State High Court on Thursday suspended the ADC congresses in the state. Justice Ahmed Isa of Yola High Court No. 6, who presided over the case, ordered the suspension of the congresses slated for Thursday until the determination of the case. The court adjourned the case to April 15, 2026, for continuation of hearing. The embattled ADC chairman of the Adamawa State chapter, Shehu Yohanna, approached the court and asked it to halt the congresses due to his exclusion from the planning process. Yohanna filed the suit against Mr. Sadiq Dasin, the state chairman of the transition committee of the ADC, Adamawa State chapter. When PUNCH contacted Lawal, he denied knowledge of the court ruling. “I am in Abuja, so I don’t know about the case. Go and ask those that were in court today. I don’t know anything concerning the court case,” he said. The Adamawa State chapter of the ADC has been engulfed in crisis since last year over the leadership of the party, creating three different factions.

Fresh Attacks: Enough of ‘hollow rhetoric,’ Atiku Tells Tinubu

April 6, 2026 by admin

Former presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar has criticised President Bola Tinubu over the recent wave of attacks in parts of the country, urging the Federal Government to take more decisive steps to address insecurity. In a post via his official X handle on Monday, Atiku expressed concern that recent violent incidents appear to contradict assurances earlier given by the President following the Angwan Rukuba attack. “I wish to remind President Bola Tinubu to keep to his words that ‘this (Angwan Rukuba attack) will not repeat itself,’” he said. He added, “It does appear that those words are hollow because barely 72 hours later, another attack in Benue State claimed over a dozen lives. The Commander-in-Chief should brace up to the challenges of governance.” The former presidential candidate also raised alarm over developments in a community in Nasarawa State, where residents reportedly fled their homes amid fears of further attacks. “I am also concerned, like all well-meaning Nigerians, about what is going on in a Nasarawa community where families had fled on foot amid threats of attack,” he said. Atiku further cited a separate incident in Kaduna State, describing it as part of a troubling pattern of insecurity. “And as if those are not enough, there was a fresh attack in Kaduna State at the weekend,” he added. He emphasised that the foremost duty of the government is to ensure the safety and welfare of its citizens. “The primary responsibility of government is the protection of lives and property and the promotion of the welfare of citizens,” he stated. Calling for urgent action, Atiku urged the President to move beyond rhetoric. “Enough of this hollow rhetoric, Mr President. It is time to fold your sleeves and get to work,” he said. He also extended condolences to the victims of the attacks. “Meanwhile, my thoughts and prayers are with the families who may have lost a dear one in these attacks,” he added.

Atiku Meets ADC Leaders in Abuja, Urges Collective Action

December 2, 2025 by admin

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, on Monday, met with the state chairmen of the African Democratic Congress from the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory at his residence in Abuja. The former presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party disclosed this in a post shared on his official X handle on Tuesday. He said the delegation, led by the Kogi State ADC Chairman, Ogga Kingsley, visited to formally welcome him following his recent registration as a member of the party. He quoted Kingsley as saying that the chairmen were delighted to receive him as a “bona fide member” of the ADC. Atiku, who expressed satisfaction with his formal entry into the party, told the chairmen that there was no time to waste in what he described as a collective rescue mission for the country. The former vice president urged other members and leaders within the coalition to complete their registration, insisting that no one could afford to “sit on the fence.” He commended the ADC leadership across the states for demonstrating commitment to the future of the country, adding that they shared a common goal to work towards a secure and prosperous nation. “I am indeed pleased to see that leaders of the party at the state level are thinking with the future of our country in mind. Together, we are committed to our resolve to work towards a secure, united, and prosperous Nigeria. “The APC is bent on wrecking our country, and we are ready to stop them from doing so,” he added. Atiku had declared that “the real opposition has begun” after formally joining the African Democratic Congress, ending months of speculation about his next political move. The former PDP chieftain stated this shortly after receiving his ADC membership card at his Jada 1 Ward in Adamawa State, marking his first public declaration of intent since leaving the main opposition party. Atiku urged his supporters across the country to immediately register with the ADC and join what he described as a new political front. In July, the former vice president resigned from the PDP, accusing the party of straying from its founding ideals. Atiku described his exit from the PDP as “heartbreaking,” saying he resigned because the party’s internal differences had become irreconcilable.

JUST IN: Atiku Officially Joins ADC, Registers With Party in Adamawa

November 24, 2025 by admin

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has officially registered as a member of the African Democratic Congress in Adamawa State, signalling a major development in Nigeria’s opposition politics ahead of the 2027 general elections. The registration took place on Monday, following Atiku’s announcement to ADC supporters and stakeholders in Adamawa over the weekend. Abdul Rasheeth, an aide to the former vice president, had confirmed the development in a statement obtained by PUNCH Online. Videos and photos from the event showed Atiku’s convoy arriving in the town to the cheers of supporters, who beat drums, sang, and carried placards with his image. Atiku waved and greeted well-wishers from his vehicle as he received his ADC membership card. In a brief X (Formerly Twitter) post on his handle shorty after his registration, Atiku wrote,” It’s official. -AA” This move formalises Atiku’s association with the coalition party, which he had previously endorsed in July as a platform for opposition figures, including Peter Obi and Babachir Lawal, to challenge President Bola Tinubu in 2027. Until now, Atiku and other opposition leaders had delayed their formal registration with the ADC. The former vice president’s registration is expected to strengthen the party’s profile and consolidate the opposition ahead of the next general election.

2027: Atiku Denies Plan To Step Down for Anyone

October 2, 2025 by admin

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has dismissed reports suggesting that he intends to step down for another presidential aspirant ahead of the 2027 elections. In a statement issued on Thursday by his Media Adviser, Paul Ibe, Atiku described such claims as a misrepresentation of his recent interview with the BBC Hausa Service. Ibe explained that a careful review of both the video and transcripts of the interview showed that Atiku never said, suggested, or implied that he intends to step down for anyone. The statement reads, “After a thorough review of both the video and transcripts of the interview – in the original Hausa and the English translation – it is evident that at no point did the former Vice President expressly state, suggest, or even imply that he intends to step down for anyone. “What Atiku Abubakar clearly and unambiguously said was that young people, as well as other prospective presidential aspirants, are free to enter the contest. He further stressed that if a young candidate were to emerge through a competitive primary, he would readily support such a candidate without any hesitation. “While interpretative journalism is a legitimate aspect of reporting, stretching interpretation to the point of mischief is unacceptable and must not be encouraged. “For the record, therefore, the insinuations attributed to Waziri Adamawa from his BBC Hausa interview are inaccurate and do not reflect what he actually said.” PUNCH Online earlier reported that Atiku, in an interview with BBC Hausa, said he will withdraw from the 2027 presidential race if a younger aspirant defeats him to clinch the African Democratic Congress presidential ticket. The former vice president also noted that he would support and mentor such a candidate. “If I run for office, and a young man defeats me, I will accept that. The party we have joined now prioritises youth and women,” he had said.