By THE Nigerian State House has criticised former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, labelling his post-election criticisms of President Bola Tinubu’s administration as “grand illusions and fantasies.”
In a statement from Special Adviser Bayo Onanuga, the government rebuked Atiku’s recent economic proposals, accusing him of undermining Tinubu while his own party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), faces internal disarray.
Collage of Atiku and Tinubu
“Since his defeat in the last election, Atiku has shown more interest in undermining President Tinubu than in addressing his party’s implosion,” Onanuga stated, suggesting that Atiku’s criticisms stem from envy.
He further argued that Atiku’s attempts to portray his rejected policies as viable alternatives lack understanding of Nigeria’s economic reality.
The statement expressed dismay at Atiku’s suggestion of implementing a “consultation period” before taking decisive action.
“While he suggests a consultation period, Nigeria’s economy requires immediate action,” the statement read.
Onanuga contrasted this with Tinubu’s approach, saying the president was prepared to “tackle challenges from Day One.”
Referring to Atiku’s suggestion to privatise state-owned refineries, the State House noted it as an outdated proposal.
“Selling national assets to private interests with limited technical capacity is not a sustainable solution,” Onanuga commented, emphasising that Tinubu’s plan to keep refineries in national hands while allowing private management is “more practical and value-laden.”
Onanuga also addressed Atiku’s claims of corruption within the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), pointing to the fuel subsidy as a longstanding enabler of such corruption.
He added, “President Tinubu’s removal of the subsidy eliminated the biggest incentive for corruption within the NNPC,” accusing Atiku of overlooking corruption within the sector during his time in office.
The State House further criticised Atiku’s economic strategies as impractical, asserting that his foreign exchange management proposal remains bound by the constraints of a “managed float” system.
“Atiku should remember that a managed float is also known as a ‘dirty float’ due to its inherent flaws,” Onanuga remarked, suggesting that this model would return Nigeria to foreign exchange inefficiencies.
Onanuga highlighted Tinubu’s reforms to soften the impact of subsidy removal on Nigeria’s poor, including cash transfers to 20 million people and social protection programmes.
“While Atiku peddles his economic fantasies, President Tinubu has already enacted transformative measures within his first year,” he claimed.
In closing, Onanuga advised Atiku to abandon his “petty, derisive politics” and focus on constructive discourse.
“The rejection of his proposals in the 2023 election indicates that Nigerians are unlikely to entertain his future political ambitions,” he concluded, urging Atiku to repair his reputation as a statesman.
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