In the long and troubled journey of Nigeria’s democracy, one thing has always stood out about Alhaji Atiku Abubakar: his discipline, foresight, and willingness to sacrifice personal comfort for the good of the people. While many politicians see public office as a gold mine, Atiku consistently demonstrated cost-cutting prudence during his years in government.
As Vice President between 1999 and 2007, Atiku oversaw sweeping public sector reforms. He championed the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) which streamlined bloated state corporations, saving billions of naira for Nigeria. Rather than indulge in reckless spending, Atiku pursued deregulation and privatization not as slogans, but as a strategy to cut waste. His philosophy was simple: the government should not spend where it cannot manage efficiently. These efforts gave Nigeria breathing space after years of military waste and corruption.
The Hypocrisy of “Tax for Thee, Salary for Me”
Fast forward to 2024/2025, and we are faced with the tragic irony of the Tinubu administration. Only months after removing fuel subsidy—an act that plunged millions into unprecedented poverty—President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government announced a hefty salary increase for political office holders.
This move was not merely insensitive; it was a dagger in the heart of struggling Nigerians. Tinubu’s administration has aggressively increased taxation on everyday Nigerians:
The Customs Revaluation Regime, where import duties are no longer based on invoices but on arbitrary upward valuations, making cars and goods unbearably expensive. The Fuel Subsidy Removal Shock, which doubled transportation and food prices almost overnight, pushing millions below the poverty line. The Telecom Tax and Multiple Levies, which squeeze businesses and young entrepreneurs already grappling with inflation.
And yet, in the middle of this storm, the ruling elite found it fit to increase their own salaries. Tax for thee, luxury for me. Nigerians toil, politicians feast.
History Repeats Itself – But It Doesn’t Have To
We have seen this movie before. The ruling elite feeding fat while the people starve is not new in Nigeria’s history. But history also teaches us about those who stood on the side of justice:
Obasanjo’s Third Term Bid (2006): Atiku famously stood against President Obasanjo’s unconstitutional attempt to extend his stay in power. He risked his political career to defend democracy. Tinubu’s Battles as Lagos Governor (2003–2007): When President Obasanjo seized Lagos State’s local government allocations, it was Atiku who intervened behind the scenes to prevent Tinubu from being politically crushed. Ironically, Tinubu today presides over the same selective justice he once suffered. The 2010 Doctrine of Necessity: Atiku lent his voice to the call that empowered Goodluck Jonathan as Acting President after Yar’Adua’s incapacitation. He believed Nigeria must not be held hostage by the political elite clinging to power. 2019 Elections and Electoral Reforms: Atiku campaigned fiercely for electoral transparency, dragging the rigging machinery of the ruling elite into the public square, ensuring reforms Nigerians still demand today. Scholarships for Gen Z Nigerians (2023): Beyond politics, Atiku personally funded scholarships for hundreds of young Nigerians, proving his commitment to investing in the future.
In contrast, Tinubu’s administration represents the very rot Nigerians fought to uproot: selective justice, self-enrichment, and disregard for the suffering majority.
What Atiku Will Do Differently
Atiku has never hidden his plan for Nigeria: to restructure the federation, cut the cost of governance, and free resources for the people. His “Government of National Unity” blueprint is not about fattening the political class, but about:
Reducing Waste: Cutting down the size of government ministries, parastatals, and offices. Investing in People: Channeling resources into education, skills acquisition, and youth empowerment rather than bloated salaries. Restructuring the Economy: Giving states more power to manage their resources while reducing dependence on federal handouts. Supporting the Youth: Scaling up scholarships, entrepreneurial grants, and targeted policies for the Gen Z population who represent the hope of Nigeria. Justice for All, Not for Some: Atiku’s legacy has always been about fairness—whether standing against Obasanjo’s third term or defending Tinubu from persecution.
The Choice Before Us
We stand today at a crossroads. On one side is a government that preaches sacrifice but lives in opulence, a government that taxes its citizens into poverty while raising salaries for itself. On the other side is Atiku Abubakar—a man who has shown, time and again, that he values justice, prudence, and the future of Nigeria above personal gain.
2027 is not just another election. It is the battle between “Tax for Thee, Salary for Me” and “Justice, Prudence, and Opportunity for All.” History remembers men not by the titles they held but by the sacrifices they made for the people.
Atiku Abubakar has made those sacrifices. And come 2027, he remains Nigeria’s best alternative.
Atiku Abubakar Is My Heart Relief