Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has strongly criticized the Nigerian Presidency for what he described as misplaced priorities, accusing it of being more concerned with defending photos of President Bola Tinubu’s meals in Paris, rather than addressing the severe crises facing the country.

In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku condemned the Presidency’s recent ‘Stop Press’ and questioned the government’s sense of urgency, as Nigeria grapples with hunger, insecurity, and economic hardship.

A Case of Misplaced Priorities

Atiku referred to the Presidency’s defense of the photos, which allegedly showed President Tinubu dining in Paris, as a “textbook case of misplaced priorities and official shamelessness.” He criticized the administration for focusing on trivial matters, such as image quality and camera phones, while Nigerian communities are facing attacks in places like Niger State and other parts of the country, and millions of families are struggling to afford basic food.

He stated: “While communities in Niger State and other parts of the country are under attack and families can no longer afford basic food, the Presidency is busy explaining camera phones, image quality, and photo editing.”

Dismissal of AI Photo Claims

Atiku also dismissed the Presidency’s outrage over claims that the photos in question may have been generated by artificial intelligence (AI) or forged, calling such reactions unconvincing. He argued that the real issue is not the authenticity of the photographs but the distortion of leadership priorities.

“The real falsehood is not a photograph. It is the daily distortion of leadership priorities,” Atiku said, adding that the credibility of the government had already been eroded, leading to widespread doubt and skepticism among Nigerians.

A Call for Urgent Action

The former Vice President urged the Presidency to abandon public relations theatrics and instead focus on confronting the pressing challenges facing Nigerians, including hunger, insecurity, and economic collapse. He insisted that this is the bare minimum Nigerians expect from their leaders.

“Nigeria is burning. The presidency is editing pictures. It is time for the Presidency to abandon public relations theatrics, return home, and confront the emergencies facing Nigerians with urgency, humility, and action,” he said.

Atiku’s remarks come at a time when Nigeria is facing multiple crises, including rising insecurity, economic challenges, and a growing food insecurity problem. Many Nigerians are calling for more decisive action from the government to address these pressing issues, rather than distractions over non-urgent matters.