By Kazeem Waris
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has faulted President Bola Tinubu over his comments blaming opposition parties and previous administrations for hunger and poverty, demanding concrete measures to address worsening economic harship and rescue Nigerians held captive by terrorists and kidnappers.
The association, in a press statement issued on Sunday, said the President’s campaign flag-off in Kaduna ahead of the 2027 general elections raised concerns about the government’s response to insecurity and the rising cost of living.
HURIWA argued that the President should use the campaign season to explain his administration’s plans to tackle terrorism, dismantle kidnapping networks and secure the release of abducted citizens, rather than shift responsibility for the country’s economic difficulties to political opponents.
The statement, signed by the association’s National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Nnadozie Onwubiko, challenged Tinubu to provide a clear, time-bound and measurable strategy for addressing the security and economic challenges confronting Nigerians.
At the Kaduna rally, Tinubu was quoted as saying: “They created the hunger. They created the poverty. We are trying to eradicate it.”
However, HURIWA argued that the administration must accept responsibility for the effects of its own economic policies since assuming office in May 2023, irrespective of the challenges inherited from previous governments.
HURIWA demands answers on abducted Nigerians
The rights group called on the President to explain the specific measures being taken to rescue Nigerians reportedly held captive by terrorists and kidnappers in Borno, Kwara, Niger and other affected states.
It said families of abducted persons continued to endure uncertainty while communities faced threats from armed groups, insisting that political rallies and campaign promises could not replace the government’s constitutional responsibility to protect lives and property.
HURIWA demanded stronger intelligence operations, improved coordination among security agencies, clear rescue strategies and accountability for operational failures.
It also called for measurable security targets that would allow Nigerians to assess the government’s performance based on the protection of lives, the rescue of captives and the restoration of safety in vulnerable communities.
The association warned that the approach to the 2027 elections should not overshadow urgent security concerns, particularly in areas affected by terrorism, kidnapping and other forms of violent crime.
Group challenges Tinubu over economic hardship
HURIWA also questioned the President’s attempt to attribute hunger and poverty to previous administrations and opposition parties, arguing that the All Progressives Congress (APC) had governed Nigeria since 2015 and should account for its record.
The association said the economic consequences of petrol subsidy removal, exchange-rate reforms and increases in the cost of essential goods and services required explanations from the current administration.
According to the group, households are struggling with rising food prices, expensive transportation, higher electricity costs and unaffordable medicines, while small businesses face increasing operating expenses.
It challenged the Federal Government to provide a transparent account of the savings from petrol subsidy removal, including how the funds had been deployed, the projects financed and the measurable benefits delivered to ordinary Nigerians.
HURIWA maintained that improved public finances and investor confidence, which the administration has cited among its economic achievements, should translate into tangible improvements in household incomes, purchasing power and living standards.
It also urged the government to explain when and how its economic reforms would produce measurable relief for Nigerians facing financial difficulties.
APC urged to account for its record
The association argued that the economic and security challenges confronting the country should be assessed against the records of successive APC administrations, including those of former President Muhammadu Buhari and Tinubu.
It called on the President to provide details of his government’s efforts to reduce poverty, protect vulnerable households, improve access to healthcare and expand economic opportunities.
HURIWA further urged the administration to treat public complaints about hunger and the cost of living as legitimate demands for accountability rather than political attacks
The group said Nigerians needed practical improvements in access to affordable food, healthcare, electricity and transportation, alongside security conditions that would enable farmers, traders, workers and businesses to operate without fear.
Demands transparency on subsidy savings
Beyond security, HURIWA called for the publication of transparent information on how subsidy savings had been allocated and spent.
It also urged the Federal Government to strengthen targeted assistance for households bearing the greatest burden of economic reforms and outline measures to contain the rising costs of essential goods and services.
The association said the government should provide clearer explanations of how it intended to restore purchasing power, reduce economic hardship and prevent further loss of lives to armed groups.
According to HURIWA, the administration’s performance on security, economic welfare and public accountability would remain important issues for public scrutiny as the 2027 presidential election approached.
The group insisted that campaign activities should not distract from the immediate needs of Nigerians, urging Tinubu to account for his administration’s decisions and present credible, measurable solutions to the country’s challenges.
