The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has launched a blistering attack on President Bola Tinubu's administration, claiming that the "weaponization of poverty" has become the most significant achievement of the current federal government.

In a statement signed by the party's National Publicity Secretary and former Cross River State governorship candidate, Dr. Effiong Efa Nyong, the ADC described the current economic situation as a "second wave of slavery" where poverty has been deliberately weaponized against Nigerians.

According to the opposition party, the hardship began immediately after Tinubu took office with what they termed a "reckless" announcement of the removal of petroleum subsidy. This singular action, the ADC claimed, "heralded a new era of hardship for Nigerians, particularly targeting the youth."

"The government has consistently increased tariffs across virtually every sector of life, including electricity, transportation, communication, healthcare, and education," Nyong stated in the release. The party also condemned what it described as "multiple taxation of unimaginable proportions" that has allegedly become the norm under the current administration.

The ADC further lamented that in the ten years of APC rule, Nigerians have suffered "terrible hardship without any comparable development, state-sponsored intimidation, recklessness, harassment, sex scandals, judicial somersaults, and legislative compromises akin to George Orwell's Animal Farm."

The party accused the APC of trivializing the grave state of the nation and coercing political figures to defect to their party. "What happened to the promises of good governance, economic growth, and national unity?" the statement questioned, adding that two years into Tinubu's administration, "our economy lies in shambles, the family unit is disintegrating, ritual killings are on the rise, and repentant terrorists now help massacre our sons and daughters."

The ADC concluded its critique by accusing the government of consistently spreading propaganda, stating, "One thing, however, the government does consistently: it lies. Propaganda, wrapped in boldness."

As of the time of filing this report, there has been no official response from the presidency or the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to these allegations.