Atiku Abubakar, the 2023 presidential candidate for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has sharply criticized President Bola Tinubu’s economic policies, accusing them of exacerbating hardship for Nigerians. In a statement released by his Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, on Monday, Atiku urged Tinubu to prioritize good governance rather than targeting political opponents.
The statement followed accusations from Tinubu’s spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, that Atiku was motivated by jealousy over his electoral loss. In response, Atiku dismissed the notion, remarking, “Jealous of Tinubu causing pain for Nigerians? No way wickedness is Tinubu’s forte.”
Shaibu underscored that Tinubu’s July 8 promise to suspend import duties on essential goods, including food, for 150 days has not been enacted, despite over 120 days passing. Atiku argued that this delay reflects administrative “incompetence” and contributes to the inflation rate surpassing 40%, marking a decades-high level.
Rather than addressing soaring living costs, Shaibu asserted that Tinubu’s administration has focused on undermining opposition figures like Atiku and Peter Obi. He criticized what he described as “compromised courts” being used to marginalize opposition voices.
Atiku went on to describe Tinubu’s policy decisions as “ill-prepared,” citing the abrupt fuel subsidy removal without adequate mitigation measures, which he says has been worsened by an incomplete Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) initiative that lacks adequate infrastructure nationwide. This situation, Atiku noted, has driven up both transport and food prices.
Highlighting economic projections, Atiku voiced skepticism about Tinubu’s forecast of a N700/$1 exchange rate by 2024, accusing the administration of misleading the public on foreign exchange reserves. He urged the Central Bank of Nigeria to release its 2023 financial statements to clarify the reserve levels. In closing, Atiku appealed to Tinubu’s administration to shift its focus toward alleviating the economic strain on Nigerians instead of engaging in political skirmishes.
