Atiku Abubakar, former Vice-President and 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has responded to accusations from President Bola Tinubu’s camp, dismissing claims that he harbors envy toward the president.
The statement follows remarks from Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, who alleged that Atiku’s economic proposals lack innovation and realism, and t labeled him plans as “illusions and fantasies,” adding that Atiku’s repeated election losses stemmed from a lack of solutions to Nigeria’s economic issues.
But Atiku’s aide, Phrank Shaibu, in a statement on Monday, dismissed the idea that Atiku could be jealous of President Bola Tinubu, whom he accused of inflicting hardship on Nigerians. Shaibu remarked, “Wickedness is an exclusive preserve of T-Pain!”—a sharp critique aimed at Tinubu’s policies and governance approach.
Shaibu contrasted the two leaders, asserting, “Unlike Tinubu, Atiku is not a bigot, nor has he refunded money to the US for alleged drug trafficking.” He argued that the ongoing economic struggles under Tinubu’s administration show a lack of focus on alleviating the challenges facing Nigerians.
Atiku himself echoed these criticisms, emphasizing that the president’s delayed policies have only worsened Nigerians’ hardships. He pointed to Tinubu’s July 2024 announcement that import duties on essential goods would be lifted for 150 days, noting that, over 120 days later, the policy remains inactive. “Food inflation has now surged to over 40%, the highest in decades,” he said. Atiku described this inaction as symptomatic of “the incompetence and inanity” of Tinubu’s administration, which he claims has prioritized verbal attacks on opponents over genuine governance.
He also criticized Tinubu’s approach to fuel subsidies, citing the abrupt removal without sufficient social or economic buffers, which has caused transportation and food costs to soar. “After seeing the fallout, he hurriedly pushed a CNG initiative, but without the necessary infrastructure in place, even his own ministers don’t use it,” Atiku argued, adding that the initiative’s failure has only deepened economic woes for Nigerians.
On foreign exchange policy, Atiku questioned Tinubu’s unrealistic projections, accusing the government of misleading Nigerians about the country’s true financial state. He called on the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to publish its 2023 financial statements to clarify the real status of the reserves, which he alleges are significantly lower than claimed.
Beyond the economy, Atiku expressed alarm at Nigeria’s worsening security situation, referencing the recent emergence of a new terrorist group, Lakurawa, and calling for a shift in focus from political infighting to public safety. He criticized Tinubu’s appointments in key positions, claiming they are politically motivated and heavily favor his own kinsmen, a move he called “unprecedented” even compared to former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
Atiku ended his statement by urging the president to make better use of his time in office. “Nigerians are exhausted from these economic challenges. They deserve policies that improve their lives, not hollow rhetoric,” he said, citing recent protests where frustrated youth reportedly waved Russian flags and voiced a preference for military intervention over current leadership. “This desperation should be a wake-up call,” Atiku warned, imploring Tinubu to focus on uplifting Nigerians instead of fueling political disputes.
