Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has faulted the Presidency’s handling of public communication, accusing it of prioritising optics over substance at a time Nigerians are grappling with severe economic and security challenges.
In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku described the Presidency’s defence of President Bola Tinubu’s recent Paris visit as a glaring example of misplaced focus.
According to him, Nigerians battling hunger, rising insecurity, business closures, and a crushing cost-of-living crisis were instead treated to official explanations about photographs, camera phones, and a presidential lunch in Paris.
He argued that true leadership is demonstrated by decisive action at home, not by public briefings centred on social engagements abroad.
Atiku further noted that public skepticism surrounding the Paris photographs did not arise in a vacuum, stressing that trust in public institutions weakens when credibility issues remain unresolved.
“When leadership credibility is eroded, doubt becomes inevitable,” the statement said, adding that attacking the media and citizens only deepens public frustration.
The former Vice President maintained that Nigeria is facing multiple emergencies that demand urgent attention, warning that excessive focus on public relations narratives risks widening the disconnect between the government and the people.
He called on the Presidency to refocus its energy on tackling hunger, insecurity, and economic instability, saying Nigerians are demanding action, empathy, and accountability, not distractions.
