The Presidency on Sunday have responded sharply to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s critique of President Bola Tinubu’s economic strategies, emphasizing the necessity of Tinubu’s decisive measures over gradual reforms.
The President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, argued that Atiku’s proposals could have deepened Nigeria’s economic woes.
“While advocating for gradual reforms may sound appealing, Tinubu took measures that should have been implemented decades ago by Alhaji Abubakar and his boss [Olusegun Obasanjo] when they had the opportunity,” Onanuga declared in his statement on Sunday.
The statement, titled “Our Initial Response to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar,” addressed Atiku’s criticisms on social media, where he labeled Tinubu’s economic policies as “trial-and-error” and blamed them for the hardships faced by Nigerians.
Despite being out of office, Atiku, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, presented his own economic strategies as solutions “in the interest of Nigerians.”
He contended that Tinubu’s abrupt policies, such as removing fuel subsidies and unifying the foreign exchange rate upon taking office in May 2023, have intensified the cost of living crisis, driving up prices for essentials like food, transport, and fuel.
In a post titled “What We Would Have Done Differently,” Atiku outlined alternative approaches to national challenges, including insecurity and the harsh impact of subsidy removal.
Yet, the Presidency dismissed these suggestions as lacking substance.
“It is easy to pontificate and criticise a rival’s programmes even when there is clear evidence that the economic reforms are yielding positive results despite the temporary difficulties,” the statement read.
Onanuga further remarked, “Firstly, Alhaji Atiku’s ideas, which lacked detail, were rejected by Nigerians in the 2023 election.
Had he won, we believe he would have plunged Nigeria into a worse situation or overseen a regime of cronyism. Abubakar lost the election partly because he vowed to sell the NNPC and other assets to his friends. Nigerians have not forgotten this.”
He also referenced Atiku’s tenure as Vice President, accusing him of overseeing a flawed privatisation initiative and neglecting the education sector.
“As Vice President, Atiku oversaw a questionable privatisation programme. He and his boss showed little faith in our educational system, establishing their universities while allowing others to decline,” Onanuga claimed.
The statement argued that Atiku’s insistence on a gradual approach revealed his limited understanding of the gravity of the situation Tinubu inherited. “It is easy to present a flowery to-do list, as is expected from an election loser,” it asserted.
The Presidency also defended the administration’s handling of subsidies and the foreign exchange market.
“President Tinubu encountered a country facing numerous serious challenges. Fuel subsidies were draining resources we could not afford, and there was rampant profiteering in the forex market,” it stated.
Onanuga emphasized that no responsible leader would allow such inefficiencies to persist unchecked.
Addressing Atiku’s appeal for compassion, Onanuga affirmed that Tinubu’s policies do consider the welfare of the vulnerable.
“Alhaji Abubakar calls for empathy and a human approach to reforms. We have no issue with this, as it aligns with our administration’s priorities. President Tinubu has consistently emphasised the importance of compassion and protecting the most vulnerable.”
The statement concluded by highlighting that social safety nets remain a priority for Tinubu’s administration, aimed at cushioning the impact of economic adjustments on Nigeria’s most affected citizens.
ROAMAN NEWS