Atiku’s N20m Theatre in Minna: A Billionaire Who Donated to Strangers, but Let His Own Workers Die Begging for Panadol

Nigerians, let us call a spade a spade. What Atiku Abubakar did in Minna on Tuesday is not charity. It is not compassion. It is political theatre. It is election-season eye service.

He donated N20 million to families of 37 miners who died in NSCDC custody in Niger State. He went with cameras. He went with press statement from his aide Phrank Shaibu. He went to the Emir of Minna. He went to General Babangida’s house. Everything was recorded. Everything was posted.

He said, “No Nigerian should ever be subjected to such indignity in the custody of his own government.”

Beautiful grammar. Very touching. But where was this grammar when his own workers were dying?

THE QUESTION ATIKU MUST ANSWER IN MINNA:

Sir, where was your N20 million for your own 600 dockworkers in Onne, Warri and Calabar?

These men served your own company INTELS for 15 years. From 2005 to 2020. They used their own hands to make you a billionaire. In November 2020, your company sacked them without one kobo. No gratuity. No benefit.

They wrote you letters. They begged. Their union, MWUN, cried to Vanguard newspaper:

“We have lost no fewer than 20 of our colleagues in Calabar, Onne and Warri, to the cold hands of death since we were disengaged without pay as they had no money to meet their medical needs.”

Later the number became 30. Thirty of your own workers died because they could not afford Panadol, because you refused to pay them N1.8 billion – just N3 million per worker for 15 years service!

At that time, you did not visit Onne. You did not visit Warri. You did not visit Calabar. You did not donate N20 million. Your managers, according to the workers themselves, had already JAPA to Lugano, Switzerland. You abandoned them to die like chickens.

What did you tell them? Nothing.

AND THE 800 AIRWAYS WORKERS?

In September 2004, when you were Vice President and Chairman of Privatization, you liquidated Nigeria Airways and threw 3,000 Nigerians into the street. For 22 years they begged for pension. Over 800 of them died waiting. Frustrated. Broken. Some couldn’t buy drugs for hypertension.

You did not donate N20 million to any of their families. You did not pay them condolence visit in Lagos. You were busy in Dubai.

It took President Tinubu to approve N36 billion to clear the mess you left.

So today you have N20 million for miners in Niger because election is coming in 2027. You have money to charter jet to Minna. You have money to visit Emir and IBB for photo-op.

But you never had N20 million for your own workers who died under your watch?

This is not kindness. This is wickedness with makeup.

THE HYPOCRISY THAT STINKS TO HIGH HEAVENS:

Atiku said in Minna: “Thirty-seven young Nigerians entered the custody of the state alive and did not return alive to their families. That tragedy demands truth, justice and accountability.”

Yes! But 30 dockworkers entered the employment of INTELS alive and did not return alive to their families because you refused to pay them. Where is the truth, justice and accountability?

You said: “Economic reform must ultimately be measured by what it does to the lives of ordinary people.”

Your own economic reform for your workers was to sack them after 15 years and let them die without medical money. Is that how you measure the lives of ordinary people?

Nigerians, open your eyes. This N20 million in Minna is not love. It is a Greek gift. It is vote-buying dressed as condolence. A man who cannot show mercy to workers who served him directly inside his own port will never show mercy to 220 million Nigerians he has never met.

If you want to know a man’s heart, don’t look at what he does for strangers when cameras are rolling. Look at what he did for his own workers when no camera was there.

Atiku failed that test. Woefully.

He let his own 600 workers die begging for N1.8 billion. Now he is donating N20 million to 37 families to look good for 2027.

Nigerians, use your head!

Written By: Fattykolly Ibn Alimi | Source: TheCable Sept 25, 2026, Vanguard, MWUN, Keyamo Oct 14, 2026