Bayo Onanuga, special adviser on information and strategy to the president, has criticized Atiku Abubakar, former vice-president, for his continuous attacks on President Bola Tinubu’s economic policies.
In May, Atiku stated that the nation’s economy has deteriorated under Tinubu, despite the high hopes of citizens.
The former presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) argued that Tinubu has “embarked on a cocktail of policies” without a clear roadmap to fulfill his promises of restructuring the economy.
Earlier this month, Atiku outlined reforms he would have implemented had he been elected Nigerian president.
In a statement on Sunday, Onanuga said Atiku’s criticisms of Tinubu’s administration lack viable alternatives.
Onanuga emphasized that the presidency expects the former vice-president to acknowledge the country’s progress in revenue generation.
He pointed out that state governments and local councils have prospered under Tinubu’s leadership, and noted that the administration has revitalized the oil sector by investing in modular refineries and the Dangote refinery.
“We expect Atiku to commend what the Tinubu administration has done concerning revenue generation for the Federation. Without factoring in oil sales, revenue proceeds generated by the Federal Inland Revenue Service almost doubled in the first half of 2024, compared with the level Tinubu met in 2023,” he said.
“The states and councils are more prosperous because of it, as many states have increased the minimum wage for their workers to between N70,000 and N85,000.”
“Notably, while Atiku peddles his economic fantasies, he has yet to denounce President Tinubu’s removal of the fuel subsidy because he knows that the reform was necessary and correct. We can only urge him to purge himself of the petty, derisive politics of a sore loser.”
“Since his defeat in the last election, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has shown more interest in undermining President Bola Ahmed Tinubu than in addressing his party’s implosion. We suspect he is envious of Tinubu’s position — an office he has unsuccessfully sought six times.”
“Atiku’s economic analysis reflects a significant misunderstanding of Nigeria’s realities. His narrative, “What We Would Have Done Differently,” reveals an inability to engage with the urgent economic issues being tackled under President Tinubu’s leadership.”
