Tinubu’s Team Hits Atiku, Defends Economic Reforms

Segun Atanda/

The presidency has hit back at former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, dismissing his critique of President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms as “untested” and lacking in substance, while defending Tinubu’s policies as necessary measures to fix Nigeria’s pressing economic challenges.

A rebuttal, issued by Presidential Special Adviser Bayo Onanuga, responded to Atiku’s comments questioning the efficacy of Tinubu’s policies and presenting his own approach as a better alternative.

“Alhaji Atiku’s ideas, which lacked detail, were rejected by Nigerians in the 2023 poll,” Onanuga said, further implying that an Atiku-led government would have pursued policies that would “plunge Nigeria into a worse situation.”

The statement cited Atiku’s previous tenure as Vice President under President Olusegun Obasanjo, raising concerns about his handling of the country’s privatization program. The presidency argued that the Tinubu administration’s recent policy decisions—such as fuel subsidy removal and foreign exchange reforms—are essential and should have been tackled “decades ago” by Atiku and Obasanjo.

Highlighting Tinubu’s commitment to social safety nets, the statement also pushed back on Atiku’s call for a more gradual reform approach, asserting that Tinubu’s decisive actions were necessary given the “enormity of problems” he inherited.

The rebuttal concluded by affirming President Tinubu’s focus on “compassion and protection of the most vulnerable” while delivering on reforms that aim to strengthen Nigeria’s economy in the long term.