Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has launched a scathing attack on President Bola Tinubu’s administration, alleging that severe economic hardship has degenerated to the point where young Nigerians are selling their kidneys to survive.
Atiku, the 2027 presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), made the remarks in a powerful statement posted on his official social media handles on Friday. His reaction followed recent disturbing reports of a young man who allegedly sold his kidney for ₦1.7 million due to financial desperation.
“That should break the heart of a nation,” Atiku wrote, expressing deep sorrow over the state of the country’s youth. “When young Nigerians begin to see their kidneys as emergency savings, we are no longer talking about ordinary economic hardship. We are witnessing the systematic stripping away of human dignity.”
The opposition leader sharply criticized the federal government for celebrating macroeconomic reforms while everyday citizens grapple with skyrocketing costs. He noted that the administration’s policies have made basic necessities—such as food, transportation, electricity, medical services, and school fees—completely unaffordable for the average family.
While acknowledging that laws exist against organ trafficking, Atiku argued that structural poverty and desperation are driving vulnerable youths directly into the hands of criminal syndicates. He stressed that a government’s success should be measured by the well-being of its people, not by abstract economic data.
“Our youths should be selling dreams, ideas, and innovation to the world, not their body parts just to buy food,” Atiku stated.
Looking ahead to the next general election, he promised a complete shift in economic governance if elected, concluding with a direct challenge to the incumbent administration: “Tinubu made Nigeria expensive. I will make Nigeria affordable again.”
The presidency has yet to issue an official response to Atiku’s allegations.
