The Presidency has accused former Vice President and 2023 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Atiku Abubakar, of harbouring resentment toward President Bola Tinubu over his rise to power.
The criticism follows Abubakar’s social media post titled, “What We Would Have Done Differently,” in which he outlined suggested economic and anti-corruption reforms.
In response, the Presidency claimed Abubakar has been more focused on disparaging Tinubu’s administration than addressing the PDP’s internal challenges. “We suspect he is envious of Tinubu’s position—an office he has unsuccessfully sought six times,” stated Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, in a release on Sunday.
The statement 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’s statement criticized Abubakar’s economic views, asserting that they reflect a lack of understanding of Nigeria’s current challenges. According to the statement, the post “What We Would Have Done Differently” demonstrates a disconnect from Nigeria’s immediate economic needs, which President Tinubu’s leadership is actively addressing.
“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.
“Atiku went further to accuse President Tinubu of ‘stealing his presidency,’ which exposes his 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.”
The statement argued that Abubakar’s suggested approach of consulting on economic matters reflects a concerning misunderstanding of the urgency needed in Nigeria’s current economic situation. It commended Tinubu’s quick action plan as necessary to confront longstanding issues.
The Presidency further defended its decision to end fuel subsidies, emphasizing the importance of immediate measures, given that “the Nigerian state was on life support.”
“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 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.”
It argued that Abubakar’s criticisms lack practical alternatives and urged him to acknowledge the deep-seated economic issues Tinubu’s administration inherited, including subsidy costs that exceeded revenue from crude oil sales. It added, “The 2023 budget allocated N3.36 trillion for fuel subsidies until June 2023, against a projected N2.23 trillion in oil revenue for the year. The Nigerian state was on life support.”
The statement highlighted that estimated savings of N5.4 trillion from subsidy removal in 2024 are being directed toward infrastructure projects and social interventions to improve citizens’ lives.
The Presidency also praised Tinubu’s economic reforms, citing increased revenue from the Federal Inland Revenue Service, implementation of a new minimum wage across several states, cash transfers, student loans, and other social programs.
Further, the statement criticized Abubakar’s proposal to privatize Nigeria’s four refineries, describing it as lacking originality and benefit. “In 2007, 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 Presidency argued that Tinubu’s approach, which involves contracting rehabilitated refineries to private managers while retaining government ownership, provides a better alternative. It claimed this strategy aims to enhance domestic production, stabilise retail prices, and ease foreign exchange pressures by enabling local crude supply in Naira.
President Tinubu, the statement concluded, is dedicated to advancing Nigeria and tackling significant national challenges. It urged Abubakar to move beyond political rhetoric and contribute to constructive discussions.
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