Newscenter Media News The Presidency has responded to recent comments by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, accusing him of harboring resentment towards President Bola Tinubu following his defeat in the 2023 presidential election.
Atiku’s proposed economic reforms and anti-corruption measures, shared in a tweet titled “What We Would Have Done Differently,” have drawn sharp criticism from the government, which suggests that his actions are motivated by envy of Tinubu’s success.
In a statement released on Sunday by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, the Presidency claimed that Atiku, since his loss, has focused more on undermining President Tinubu’s administration than addressing issues within his own party. The statement noted, “We suspect he is envious of Tinubu’s position—an office he has unsuccessfully sought six times.”
The statement went on to question the practicality and appeal of Atiku’s proposals, which were rejected by the electorate in 2023.
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It read, “It is perplexing that he would elevate his untested, hypothetical proposal, which Nigerians soundly rejected during the 2023 presidential election, as a superior alternative to the multi-faceted reform programmes implemented by the Tinubu administration. If his plan lacked popular appeal, he must accept that repackaging it will not address the social and economic challenges his People’s Democratic Party (PDP) left after 16 years in power.”
The Presidency also criticized Atiku’s economic analysis, accusing him of failing to grasp the urgent realities facing Nigeria. The statement pointed out that his proposals, particularly the idea of a consultation period upon assuming office, were out of touch with the immediate needs of the nation’s economy. “What reforms would Atiku propose in his hypothetical presidency? While he suggests a consultation period upon assuming office, the Nigerian economy requires immediate, decisive action. A leader must be ready to tackle challenges from Day One, as President Tinubu has done.”
The statement further responded to Atiku’s accusation that President Tinubu “stole his presidency,” labeling it a reflection of Atiku’s sense of entitlement and disconnect from the electorate. “Tinubu rightfully won the presidency, a position Atiku was unqualified for due to his arrogance, insensitivity to Nigeria’s diversity, and his disregard for his party’s power rotation arrangement between North and South after eight years of President Muhammadu Buhari.”
On the issue of the fuel subsidy removal, the Presidency defended the action, explaining that the state of the economy demanded urgent reform. “Atiku’s idea of a consultation period upon entering office shows a troubling lack of awareness regarding the state of the economy, which was in dire need of urgent action. The Tinubu administration arrived with a firm action plan to address shortcomings that persisted during President Olusegun Obasanjo’s tenure when Atiku was Vice President,” the statement said.
It continued, “We can only imagine the detrimental effects of Atiku’s proposed lengthy town hall meetings on Nigeria’s economy had he been elected and taken such an approach. The country needed a proactive leader like Tinubu, who got to work immediately rather than one who would waste time on consultations and a questionable privatisation agenda.”
The Presidency also highlighted the savings generated from subsidy removal, which it said would be used for infrastructure development and social welfare programs. “The estimated N5.4 trillion saved from subsidy removal in 2024 is being directed toward infrastructure development and social intervention programmes to benefit all tiers of government and improve Nigerians’ quality of life.”
On Atiku’s suggestion to privatize Nigeria’s oil refineries, the Presidency dismissed it as lacking both originality and practicality. The statement referenced the failed attempt to privatize the refineries in 2007 under the Obasanjo administration, when Atiku was Vice President, and argued that the approach of the Tinubu government—contracting rehabilitated refineries to private managers while keeping the assets under government control—is far more beneficial.
“Investors were only willing to offer $160 million for 51% equity in the Port Harcourt Refinery, while the Kaduna Refinery received a bid of $102 million. Industry experts and the late President Umar Musa Yar’Adua, who cancelled the refineries’ sale by the Obasanjo-Atiku government, considered these bids as scrap value,” the statement noted.
The Presidency concluded by reaffirming President Tinubu’s focus on addressing Nigeria’s real challenges and urged Atiku Abubakar to move beyond political distractions. “Atiku Abubakar should move beyond political distractions and focus on constructive discussions,” the statement said.
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