The Nigerian Presidency has strongly criticised former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, suggesting he harbours envy over President Bola Tinubu’s position—a role the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate pursued six times unsuccessfully.
The backlash followed Abubakar’s tweet titled “What We Would Have Done Differently,” in which he proposed economic and anti-corruption reforms as alternatives to the current administration’s strategies.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, alleged that Abubakar has “shown more interest in undermining President Bola Ahmed Tinubu than in addressing his party’s internal crises,” adding that his continued criticism “suggests envy of Tinubu’s office.”
The statement went on to denounce Abubakar’s proposals as speculative and unrealistic, claiming that “the untested, hypothetical plan, which Nigerians soundly rejected during the 2023 presidential election, pales against the reform programmes implemented by the Tinubu administration.”
It added that repackaging these proposals would not resolve the “social and economic challenges” left by the PDP’s 16-year tenure.
Onanuga argued that Abubakar’s suggestions reflect a lack of grasp on Nigeria’s economic realities.
“What reforms would Atiku propose in his hypothetical presidency?” he questioned.
“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.”
Abubakar’s claim that Tinubu “stole his presidency” was also addressed, with Onanuga alleging it exposed Abubakar’s “sense of entitlement” and disconnect from the electorate.
Tinubu, he asserted, had rightfully won the election, while Abubakar was “unqualified for the presidency” due to “arrogance” and “insensitivity to Nigeria’s diversity.”
Highlighting the Tinubu administration’s decisive steps, the statement noted that “the current administration came prepared with a firm action plan to address the shortcomings that persisted during President Olusegun Obasanjo’s time when Atiku was vice president.”
It also suggested that if Abubakar had adopted a consultative approach, the country would have suffered economically, with prolonged “town hall and Village Square meetings” impeding urgent reforms.
Regarding Abubakar’s proposed privatisation of Nigeria’s four state-owned refineries, the Presidency dismissed the plan as lacking originality, pointing to past offers in 2007 that valued the Port Harcourt and Kaduna refineries as “scrap.”
Instead, Tinubu’s administration has adopted a model that allows private sector management of the refineries at agreed rates, alongside initiatives like modular refineries and support for the Dangote Refinery.
The statement further claimed that President Tinubu’s removal of the fuel subsidy has tackled one of the largest corruption enablers in the oil sector, asserting that during Abubakar’s tenure as vice president, he failed to implement substantial reforms.
“During his eight-year tenure as Vice President, Atiku and his boss had an opportunity to address this issue but failed,” it read.
Onanuga went on to reference historical allegations of corruption involving Abubakar, including the conviction of his former associate, U.S. Congressman William Jefferson.
Criticising Abubakar’s proposed foreign exchange management, the statement described his approach as a “dirty float,” a system allegedly prone to the same flaws as a fixed exchange rate.
“Atiku should remember that a managed float is also known as a dirty float due to its inherent flaws,” the statement read.
The Presidency underscored Tinubu’s commitment to reforms, pointing to a projected N5.4 trillion in savings from the subsidy removal in 2024, which is directed toward infrastructure and social welfare initiatives to benefit citizens.
It praised recent revenue generation achievements, noting a near doubling of revenue by the Federal Inland Revenue Service in the first half of 2024, compared to figures under Abubakar’s administration.
Onanuga concluded by urging Abubakar to reassess his approach and move beyond “politics of distraction.”
“Atiku’s critiques are harebrained propositions devoid of realistic alternatives,” he stated, while asserting that President Tinubu is focused on “leading Nigeria toward a prosperous future and addressing our nation’s real challenges.”
