SIX YEARS AFTER LEKKI, THE APC STILL OWES NIGERIANS ANSWERS AND YOUNG PEOPLE A FUTURE. Six years after the Lekki shooting, Nigeria is still waiting for a clear answer to one devastating question: Who gave the order? Let us also not forget that in October 2020, Bola Tinubu, rather than demonstrating the empathy and compassion the tragedy demanded, suggested that those who suffered casualties during the shooting had questions to answer. He asked: “How were they there? How long were they there? What kind of characters are they?” At a moment when Nigerians were demanding accountability for the violence against peaceful protesters, his response appeared more concerned with questioning the victims than demanding answers from those responsible. The anger trending across the country today is not a social media performance. It is grief that has been left to harden into distrust. It is the pain of families still demanding answers, and of young people who watched their calls for dignity meet violence and then watched the country move on without the truth they deserve. The APC has governed Nigeria through these six years. It cannot keep asking Nigerians to remember the dead while refusing to confront the unanswered questions. A government that cannot give citizens confidence that their lives matter has failed one of its most basic duties. And the hardship young people face today deepens that betrayal. Petrol at ₦1,405 a litre means more than an expensive journey. It means less money for food, school, rent and work. It means a young person can do everything asked of them and still find the door to a decent life shut in their face. The APC promised renewal. For too many Nigerians, the experience has been rising costs, shrinking opportunity and a future pushed further out of reach. No speech about growth can excuse empty pockets. No anniversary tribute can replace justice. No campaign slogan can erase six years of unanswered questions. Just this morning, one of my aides told me about a young woman who was forced to resign from her job this month because her salary could no longer cover the cost of getting to work. Her words were as heartbreaking as they were revealing: “The pay no longer covers transport. Everything in Nigeria just dey increase in price. Feels like I'm working for Bolt guys.” Imagine that: a Nigerian who has secured employment, yet can no longer afford to remain employed. This is the cruel reality of an economy in which even those fortunate enough to have jobs are being priced out of earning a living. The policies of this government are stifling not only the unemployed but also hardworking Nigerians whose salaries have become increasingly worthless in the face of rising costs. This is precisely the hardship my Economic Recovery Plan is designed to address, with one overriding objective: to Make Nigeria Affordable Again. My policy response is built around relief people can feel: support tied to fuel refined in Nigeria, with the savings passed on to consumers; more local production to create jobs; protection for minimum wage earners and student support; and funding these measures by cutting waste instead of imposing new taxes. Young Nigerians deserve the truth about Lekki. They deserve a government that protects life, and an economy that gives work a chance to lead somewhere. Six years on, the APC has had ample time to answer for its record. Nigerians are entitled to ask why the answers and the opportunities are still missing. #LekkiMassacre -AA

ATIKU LAUNCHES ‘ASK AA’ PORTAL TO OPEN DIRECT CHANNEL TO NIGERIANS The African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has unveiled Ask AA, an information and citizen-engagement portal that gives Nigerians a direct opportunity to ask him questions about his political agenda, record in public service and plans for the country. The portal goes live at 8:30 p.m. today, 15 October 2026. The free-access platform allows Nigerians to submit questions on issues including the economy, security, technology, job creation and Atiku’s plan to make life more affordable. Atiku will respond personally to questions, while his media team will also help provide answers. Powered by technology, Ask AA is designed to help bridge the information gap between voters and the ADC presidential candidate by making it easier for citizens to engage with him and access information about his positions and proposals. “The objective of this initiative is to bring Atiku Abubakar closer to the electorate through a practical, problem-solving platform,” said Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication for the ADC Presidential Campaign Council. Shaibu added that the initiative reflects Atiku’s commitment to using modern technology to make government more efficient, secure and effective. For communities without internet access, the campaign plans to make the platform accessible through a radio interface. In announcing the initiative on his social media accounts, Atiku said he conceived Ask AA because he believes that “leadership is a two-way conversation.” He said: “For too long, governance has felt distant—locked behind walls of bureaucracy. But our country’s greatest resource isn’t oil or land; it is our people. If we are going to build the Nigeria of our dreams, we must start by tearing down the walls between leaders and the people. “That is why I am launching Ask AA—a direct citizen-engagement platform built for transparency, accountability and dialogue. No filters, no intermediaries. “Whether you want to question my economic record, discuss my policy plans for technology, security and job creation, or share your own recommendations for national progress, nothing is off the table. I want to hear your questions, your policy critiques and your best ideas. “Beyond answering questions here, I will personally call selected citizens who leave their contact details so I can hear directly about their experiences and the issues affecting their daily lives. “A transparent, technology-driven government is not a promise for tomorrow. It begins with how we listen to you today. “I’m logged in and ready. If you could ask me one question, what would it be?” Signed: Phrank Shaibu Director of Strategic Communication ADC Presidential Campaign Council 15 October 2026