Atiku Criticizes Tinubu’s Paris Lunch Briefing, Calls it Misplaced Priority

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has taken a swipe at President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over his recent visit to Paris, France, describing the Presidency’s focus on the president’s lunch engagement as a clear sign of misplaced priorities.

In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said the Presidency’s recent “Stop Press” update was an example of official insensitivity at a time when Nigerians are grappling with severe economic and security challenges.

According to the statement, Nigerians are currently burdened by hunger, rising insecurity, business closures and an escalating cost-of-living crisis, yet the Presidency chose to brief the public on the president’s dining arrangements in Paris. Shaibu described the move as tone-deaf and unreflective of true leadership.

He criticised the Presidency for focusing on explanations about camera angles, image quality and photo editing, while communities in parts of the country, including Niger State, continue to face violent attacks and many families struggle to afford basic food items.

Shaibu questioned the relevance of the Paris briefing, noting that Nigerians were not interested in what the president ate abroad but in decisive leadership at home. He also dismissed claims surrounding artificial intelligence or image forgery as unconvincing, arguing that a government often linked to controversies over questionable documents should not be surprised by public scepticism.

The statement added that the erosion of public trust naturally fuels doubt and warned that attacking the media or lecturing citizens would not restore confidence. It described the real problem as a distortion of leadership priorities, insisting that Nigeria is facing urgent crises that demand immediate attention.

Atiku therefore urged the Presidency to set aside public relations displays, return its focus to domestic issues and urgently address hunger, insecurity and economic hardship with humility and decisive action, saying this was the minimum Nigerians expect from their leaders.