2027: Keyamo Accuses Atiku of Hypocrisy Over Economic Hardship, Insecurity

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has accused former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of hypocrisy over his criticism of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, challenging the former presidential candidate to account for the record of the government in which he served.

Keyamo’s criticism followed Atiku’s condemnation of the rising cost of living and worsening insecurity in Nigeria, with the former vice president accusing the Tinubu administration of presiding over circumstances in which millions of families are struggling to afford basic necessities while living under the threat of kidnapping and violent attacks.

Atiku, who is the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has increasingly criticised the Federal Government over the economic difficulties confronting Nigerians and the government’s handling of the country’s security challenges.

However, Keyamo, in a post on his X handle on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, argued that Atiku’s criticisms failed to acknowledge the responsibilities and controversies associated with his tenure as vice president under former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Focusing on the aviation sector, which he currently supervises as minister, Keyamo cited the liquidation of the defunct Nigeria Airways in September 2004, arguing that the former vice president should be held accountable for the consequences of decisions taken by the administration in which he served.

The minister maintained that the liquidation left thousands of former employees without their jobs and, according to him, without their pensions and gratuities for many years.

He also credited President Tinubu with approving the release of N36 billion to address the outstanding entitlements of the airline’s former workers, describing the intervention as an effort to provide relief to families who had waited for decades for their benefits.

Keyamo Recalls Nigeria Airways Liquidation

In his response to Atiku, Keyamo accused the former vice president of overlooking the historical record of the Obasanjo administration while criticising the present government over economic hardship.

“Your Excellency, Atiku Abubakar, this is hypocrisy at its peak! Let me just talk only about the sector that I head, Aviation,” the minister wrote.

He recalled that Nigeria Airways was liquidated in September 2004, when Atiku was vice president, and argued that the decision had lasting consequences for the airline’s employees and their families.

According to Keyamo, thousands of workers lost their jobs following the airline’s liquidation, while their pensions and gratuities remained unpaid for years.

The minister described the prolonged wait for the benefits as a source of hardship for the former employees, some of whom, he said, had died before receiving their entitlements.

He argued that the Tinubu administration’s decision to release N36 billion for the settlement of the outstanding obligations represented an attempt to address a problem inherited from previous governments.

“Twenty-two years later, after many of them have died out of frustration, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is now clearing the mess you left behind,” Keyamo stated.

He added that the president had approved and released the money more than a month ago, claiming that beneficiaries had begun receiving payment notifications.

The minister further stated that the intervention had attracted recognition from the former workers’ union, which he said presented an award to Tinubu a few weeks earlier.

Keyamo used the development to challenge Atiku’s criticism of the administration, arguing that the former vice president should acknowledge the present government’s intervention in resolving a long-standing problem affecting aviation workers.

The N36 billion payment, as presented by the minister, has therefore become central to the exchange between the two political figures, with Keyamo using the issue to question Atiku’s record in government and defend Tinubu’s performance in the aviation sector.

Minister Questions Atiku’s Record In Government

Beyond the Nigeria Airways controversy, Keyamo accused Atiku of adopting inconsistent positions on the Obasanjo administration, depending on whether the government’s record was politically advantageous to him.

The minister argued that Atiku could not simultaneously claim credit for the achievements of the administration in which he served and distance himself from controversial decisions taken during the same period.

“When it is convenient for you, you claim some credit of the Obasanjo-Atiku government and when not convenient, you say Obasanjo was in charge and not you as Vice-President,” Keyamo wrote.

He also accused the former vice president of using criticism of the Tinubu administration to advance his political ambition ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Describing Atiku’s remarks as politically motivated, the minister argued that Nigerians should examine the former vice president’s record in office before accepting his assessment of the present administration.

Keyamo maintained that his response was intended to remind younger Nigerians of the history of the aviation sector and the circumstances surrounding the loss of jobs and unpaid entitlements at the defunct national carrier.

His intervention reflects the increasingly confrontational exchanges between officials of the Tinubu administration and opposition politicians as political parties position themselves ahead of the next presidential election.

Atiku Raises Concerns Over Cost of Living, Insecurity

Atiku’s criticism of the Federal Government centred on the economic difficulties and security threats confronting households across the country.

The former vice president argued that Nigerian families were struggling to meet their basic needs as the cost of essential goods and services continued to put pressure on household incomes.

He also raised concerns about kidnapping, attacks and other violent incidents, saying that citizens continued to live in fear despite the government’s responsibility to protect lives and property.

The concerns come amid persistent public debate over the effects of economic reforms, including the removal of the petrol subsidy and changes to the foreign exchange system, as well as the government’s efforts to contain inflation and improve national security.

While the Federal Government has defended its reforms as necessary measures to stabilise the economy and create conditions for sustainable growth, critics have questioned the pace at which the benefits are reaching ordinary Nigerians.

For many households, the immediate issues remain the affordability of food, transportation, housing, healthcare and other necessities, alongside concerns about personal safety and the security of livelihoods.

Atiku’s intervention places these issues at the centre of the political debate ahead of 2027, while Keyamo’s response shifts attention to the opposition politician’s previous record in government.

However, the minister’s response did not directly address the specific economic and security concerns raised by Atiku. Instead, it focused on the former vice president’s role in the Obasanjo administration and the legacy of Nigeria Airways.

Nigeria Airways Legacy Remains A Controversial Issue

The liquidation of Nigeria Airways remains a significant chapter in the history of Nigeria’s aviation industry, particularly for former employees who lost their jobs and spent years seeking outstanding entitlements.

Established in 1958, the airline served as the country’s national carrier for several decades before years of operational and financial difficulties culminated in its liquidation.

The collapse of the airline had implications beyond its former workforce, raising broader questions about the management of state-owned enterprises, government oversight and Nigeria’s capacity to sustain a commercially viable national airline.

For former employees, however, the most immediate consequences were the loss of employment, uncertainty over retirement benefits and the prolonged struggle to obtain payments they believed were owed to them.

Keyamo’s remarks have brought those concerns back into the political conversation, with the minister presenting the Tinubu administration’s reported N36 billion intervention as evidence of its willingness to resolve inherited obligations.

Nevertheless, the controversy also raises questions about the responsibilities of successive administrations in addressing long-standing liabilities. The former workers’ entitlements have remained an issue across multiple governments, making the latest reported payment part of a much longer history of demands for compensation and settlement.

The full assessment of the intervention would depend on the amount actually disbursed, the number of verified beneficiaries, the proportion of outstanding obligations covered and whether all eligible former employees or their families would receive their entitlements.

These details are important because a government announcement or approval, while significant, is not necessarily the same as the completion of payments to every eligible beneficiary.

2027 Political Debate Gathers Momentum

The exchange between Keyamo and Atiku underscores the growing prominence of political accountability as Nigeria approaches the 2027 general elections.

For the Tinubu administration, the challenge is to demonstrate that its economic policies and interventions are improving the living conditions of Nigerians, particularly those facing rising expenses, unemployment and insecurity.

For opposition figures such as Atiku, the task is to sustain scrutiny of government performance while presenting credible alternatives to the policies they criticise.

At the same time, Keyamo’s reference to Nigeria Airways highlights the importance of examining the records of opposition politicians who previously held public office. Questions about their decisions, achievements and failures remain relevant to public evaluation of their proposals and criticisms.

However, accountability applies to both sides of the political divide. A former officeholder’s record does not automatically invalidate criticism of a current administration, just as the resolution of an inherited problem does not by itself settle questions about the present government’s broader performance.

The central issues raised by Atiku — the cost of living and insecurity — therefore remain relevant irrespective of the political dispute surrounding them. Equally, the plight of former Nigeria Airways employees demonstrates why governments must be judged not only by their announcements but also by the delivery of promised relief and the durability of their interventions.

As the political exchanges intensify, Nigerians will be watching to see whether the competing claims translate into concrete proposals and measurable results on the economy, security, employment and public welfare.

For the former Nigeria Airways workers, the immediate priority remains the payment of all verified outstanding entitlements. For millions of other Nigerians, the more pressing questions concern the affordability of basic necessities and the ability of the state to protect lives and livelihoods.

The unfolding contest between Keyamo and Atiku may shape the political narrative ahead of 2027, but its ultimate significance will depend on whether the issues at the heart of the dispute receive practical and lasting solutions.