Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the previous election, attributes the current pain and despair among Nigerians to the economic policies of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a post on his social media handle, Atiku criticized President Bola Tinubu, asserting that his inadequate response to the nation’s challenges is laying the groundwork for an extended and more profound economic crisis.
Atiku said President Tinubu’s economic performance has, in recent weeks and months, been a subject of intense discourse among Nigerians at home and abroad, adding, “Nigerians are gravely concerned, and rightly so, that ….His economic policies, drawn from a so-called renewed hope agenda, are ironically dashing hopes, creating pain and causing despair. The private sector is shrinking by the day as small businesses are emasculated and as Multinational Companies, confused and weary of the economy, leave Nigeria in droves.
“The intense cost of living pressures has created more misery for the poor in towns and villages. There is hunger in the land as basic commodities, including bread, are becoming out of reach for average Nigerians.
But in a swift reaction, the presidency on Sunday night said Alhaji Atiku Abubakar had certainly found a new hobby to keep himself busy, having failed to achieve his lifelong ambition of becoming the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Mr Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information & Strategy, in a statement, said the former vice president “is increasingly carving for himself the role of opposition-in-chief to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his government.”
He said: “Atiku’s latest diatribe was another uncharitable commentary on the state of the economy and the efforts of the President Bola Tinubu administration in remolding it for sustained prosperity.
“Nigerians can easily see through the hypocrisy of Alhaji Atiku, who in accusing President Tinubu of poor response to the nation’s challenges and causing pains and despair, didn’t offer any better policy options in his run for the Presidency different from the economic reform agenda being pursued by President Tinubu. “His claim that the government’s policies have created intense cost of living pressures is also not grounded on facts as recent comparative cost of living indices show that Nigerians still enjoy the lowest cost of living in Africa.
“Instead of mouthing platitudes every time in a bid to earn cheap political mileage, Alhaji Atiku who presumes himself as the leader of the opposition should tell Nigerians what he would have done better if he had been elected President. political mileage, Alhaji Atiku who presumes himself as the leader of the opposition should tell Nigerians what he would have done better if he had been elected President.
“Atiku should be honest enough to admit that President Tinubu inherited a weak economy, which to all intents and purposes and to ensure the survival of our country needs a complete overhaul.”
“While President Tinubu and his able team are working very hard to make our country better, and ensure our economy is stronger and more competitive, Atiku Abubakar and his cohorts may continue to belly ache.
“However, they cannot stop the serious work of nation-building already set in motion by President Tinubu.”
