Tinubu’s policies are hurting Nigerians, says Atiku

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has strongly criticised President Bola Tinubu’s economic policies, claiming they are worsening life for Nigerians and should be the primary focus of his administration rather than targeting political opponents. Atiku issued a statement through his Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, in response to a recent statement by the Presidency, which he described as “inelegant and insipid.”

Atiku, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), accused Tinubu of neglecting key governance issues, including Nigeria’s high inflation rate and the slow pace of economic reform.

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“On July 8, 2024, Tinubu announced that import duty on essential goods like food would be lifted for 150 days. But over 120 days later, the policy is yet to take off, while Nigerians continue to die daily due to increasing costs, including food inflation, which now exceeds 40%, the highest in decades,” Atiku said.

He contended that Tinubu’s administration is plagued by disorganisation, with government policies reportedly delayed due to a lack of coordination within the finance ministry.

“The brazen disobedience to a government policy by Tinubu’s appointees and the failure of the finance ministry to issue a gazette after over four months reflects the fatuousness, inanity and the incompetence that characterizes the Tinubu administration,” he said.

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Atiku also expressed concern over Tinubu’s focus on criticising the opposition, including himself and Labour Party’s Peter Obi, instead of addressing economic issues and security.

“Sadly, rather than focus on governance, they are preoccupied with verbally assaulting their opponents – Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi – while using compromised courts to foster crisis in the opposition. What a shame!” said Atiku, who served as Vice President from 1999 to 2007.

He went on to call Tinubu’s tenure one marked by confusion and “policy flip-flops,” pointing to the removal of fuel subsidies without adequate mitigation measures.

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“Tinubu was obviously unprepared for office. He acts first and thinks of the consequences afterwards. This was why he announced an abrupt removal of petrol subsidy without any cushions. After seeing the effect, he then hurriedly decided to push a CNG initiative, which even he and his ministers have not embraced, hence their refusal to use it,” Atiku added, noting that the compressed natural gas initiative had yet to gain traction due to insufficient infrastructure across Nigeria.

Atiku also pointed to Nigeria’s declining economic standing on the continent, the weakened naira, and a rising sense of frustration among Nigerians. He cited the recent mid-term expenditure framework from the administration, which projects the naira at ₦700 to $1 in 2024 and ₦650 to $1 by 2025, saying the projections are “unrealistic” and accusing Tinubu of misleading Nigerians regarding the nation’s foreign reserves. “Let the CBN release its financial statements of 2023 if he is sure of his achievements,” Atiku challenged.

The former Vice President criticised Tinubu’s approach to security as well, urging him to tackle the rise of new threats, including the recently reported terror group Lakurawa, instead of what he deemed “political distractions.” He argued that Tinubu’s appointments, particularly in economic and security sectors, reflected regional favouritism, further undermining national unity.

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In a strongly worded rebuke, Atiku dismissed suggestions of rivalry between him and Tinubu, saying, “It is ludicrous to claim that Atiku is jealous of Tinubu. Hell no, Atiku cannot be jealous of Tinubu inflicting pains on Nigerians. Wickedness is an exclusive preserve of Tinubu and no compassionate leader who truly cares about the wellbeing of Nigerians should be jealous of what is an exclusive preserve of T-Pain,” referring to a nickname given to Tinubu on social media.

Atiku concluded by warning that Nigerians are on the edge, with rising poverty and escalating living costs creating significant public dissatisfaction.

He pointed to recent protests where some Nigerians waved Russian flags and called for military intervention, describing this as a dangerous sign of desperation.

“God forbid we return to those dark days,” Atiku said. He also urged Tinubu to address the economic woes plaguing the country before discontent deepens further.