Atiku’s constant critiques of Tinubu fuelled by election defeat — Presidency

…Says Atiku’s focus is on distraction, not constructive solutions

By Sodiq Adelakun

The Presidency on Sunday launched a scathing attack on former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, accusing him of harbouring deep-seated envy toward President Bola Tinubu and of using persistent criticism to mask his own political failures.

In a strongly-worded statement, presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga claimed that since Atiku’s defeat in the 2023 Presidential Election, he has shifted his focus from addressing the internal challenges within his own party to a campaign aimed at undermining the Tinubu administration.

“Atiku’s relentless attacks on the President are rooted in frustration and his inability to come to terms with the rejection of his political ideas by Nigerians,” Onanuga said. “Instead of addressing the pressing issues facing his own party, Atiku has chosen to engage in a campaign of distraction, attacking the President’s reforms at every opportunity.”

Onanuga suggested that Atiku’s proposals for Nigeria’s economy, which he revived in a recent public statement, were nothing more than a rehash of the same failed ideas that had been rejected by voters during the 2023 election.

He referred specifically to Atiku’s economic plan titled “What We Would Have Done Differently,” calling it a misguided attempt to offer an alternative to Tinubu’s policies.

“The proposals presented by Atiku are outdated and disconnected from the current economic realities of Nigeria,” Onanuga asserted.

“Rather than offering pragmatic solutions, his ideas focus on hypothetical scenarios and consultations that lack urgency in addressing Nigeria’s immediate challenges.”

Atiku, a six-time presidential candidate, has been vocal in his opposition to Tinubu’s economic policies, particularly the controversial removal of fuel subsidies.

He has argued for a more gradual approach to subsidy removal, but Onanuga criticised this stance, suggesting that such gradualism had proven ineffective in previous administrations.

“History has shown that a phased-out approach to subsidy removal is unworkable, especially in economies like Nigeria’s.

“President Tinubu made the right call in removing the subsidy entirely, a bold step toward long-term fiscal sustainability,” Onanuga said.

The Presidency also emphasised the early successes of the Tinubu administration, noting that the government’s focus on fiscal reforms had already yielded positive results.

Non-oil tax revenues collected by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) had nearly doubled in the first half of 2024, compared to the same period in 2023, according to Onanuga.

“The results of the Tinubu administration’s efforts are visible and tangible,” Onanuga pointed out, adding that many states had raised the minimum wage for workers as a direct result of these reforms.

Onanuga further criticised Atiku for his call to privatise Nigeria’s refineries, pointing out that during his tenure as Vice President, Atiku had overseen the sale of national assets at suboptimal prices, which were widely regarded as detrimental to Nigeria’s long-term interests.

“Atiku’s push to privatise Nigeria’s refineries again is out of touch with the country’s current needs,” Onanuga said. “This is the same man who, as Vice President, oversaw the sale of key assets, leaving the country with little to show for it.”

Atiku has repeatedly called for an overhaul of Nigeria’s state-owned oil sector, including the sale of refineries, a proposal the presidency views as regressive.

Onanuga contrasted this with President Tinubu’s focus on rehabilitating refineries and encouraging the growth of modular refineries to reduce dependence on foreign fuel imports.

The statement also addressed Atiku’s criticisms of corruption within the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

Onanuga reminded Nigerians of Atiku’s own controversial history with corruption allegations, including those involving his family members and associates during his time as Vice President.

“Given Atiku’s own history with allegations of corruption, it is difficult for many Nigerians to take his anti-corruption rhetoric seriously.

“His attempts to position himself as a moral authority only serve to erode his credibility,”Onanuga said.

Onanuga concluded by asserting that Atiku’s continued criticisms of the Tinubu administration were driven more by personal ambition than a genuine desire to serve Nigeria.

He said that Atiku’s failure to offer concrete solutions to the country’s problems, combined with his fixation on hypothetical political scenarios, made his criticisms largely irrelevant.

“It is clear that Atiku’s focus is not on constructive dialogue, but on distracting Nigerians from the real issues.

“Rather than engage in the politics of envy, Atiku should consider offering solutions that can actually move Nigeria forward,” Onanuga stated.

The presidency maintained that under President Tinubu’s leadership, the government would remain focused on implementing the reforms needed to improve the economy and the welfare of ordinary Nigerians.