The presidency has criticized former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s economic proposals, describing them as an untested alternative to President Bola Tinubu’s ongoing reforms.
Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, issued the statement on Sunday, asserting that Atiku’s ideas were already rejected by Nigerians in the 2023 election and lack substantive details.
Onanuga argued that if Atiku had won, his plans could have worsened Nigeria’s situation or led to cronyism, pointing to Atiku’s earlier proposal to sell the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and other assets to associates. He also noted that Nigerians remember Atiku’s record from his tenure in former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s first term, which included a controversial privatization initiative.
“He and his boss demonstrated a lack of faith in our educational system, choosing to establish their own universities while government institutions struggled,” Onanuga stated.
Despite Atiku’s criticisms of the Tinubu administration’s policies, Onanuga claimed that Tinubu’s reforms are necessary steps forward, even if they come with temporary challenges. He added that Atiku’s statements failed to discredit the current economic policies, which he believes are proving beneficial despite initial difficulties.
