By Izunna Okafor, Awka
Former Vice President and 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has once again criticized President Bola Tinubu’s administration, accusing it of leading Nigeria astray with what he describes as “trial and error” policies.
Atiku, in a statement issued to newsmen on Monday, expressed concern over the economic downturn under Tinubu’s leadership and reiterated his stance that the 2023 presidential election was rigged, robbing him and Nigerians of their mandate.
Addressing what he called the “striking disparity” between Tinubu’s faltering policies and the strategic alternatives he had proposed, Atiku remarked on the current discourse surrounding the nation’s economic state. He emphasized that the ongoing debates should ideally serve the interests of Nigerians and bring about meaningful change.
Atiku minced no words in attributing Nigeria’s economic woes to Tinubu’s “hasty ascent to power,” which he claims was unaccompanied by a coherent or actionable plan.
“Like many fellow Nigerians, I firmly believe that we find ourselves in this current economic turmoil due to the Tinubu administration’s hasty ascent to power, devoid of a coherent plan,” he said, criticizing what he described as a rudderless approach to governance being exhibited by Tinubu.
In contrast, Atiku highlighted his well-researched Recovery Plan, which, he said, was devised by a highly competent team and enriched with inputs from Nigerians. “Our approach was inclusive and well-considered,” he stated, positioning his proposed policies as a superior blueprint to Tinubu’s measures.
Taking a jab at Tinubu’s recent national prayer initiative led by the First Lady and the National Security Adviser, Atiku mocked it as a knee-jerk reaction following his own economic proposals.
“Isn’t it fascinating how the so-called ‘tested’ Tinubu administration’s only policy response seems to be a national prayer, just a mere 24 hours after I proposed my alternative solutions? What a bold strategy!” he quipped.
However, he acknowledged the importance of prayer but added that “The sacred texts also counsel us to engage in diligent labour and hard work.”
Atiku also refuted claims by Tinubu’s team that his economic solutions remain untested. He criticized the “erratic, trial-and-error nature” of Tinubu’s policies, asserting that this approach has only deepened Nigeria’s economic struggles.
“What remains unproven is the erratic, trial-and-error nature of the policies so far implemented by this administration, which elucidates our present predicament,” he argued.
Recalling Nigeria’s economic glory during his tenure as Vice President under President Olusegun Obasanjo, Atiku painted a picture of past economic success compared to the current downturn. He noted that Nigeria’s GDP growth rate averaged 6.59% under the Obasanjo administration and even reached a peak of 15% in 2002. This, he juxtaposed against what he called the “dismal 2.8%” GDP rate of Tinubu’s administration, which he described as a failure.
Lamenting the administration’s taxation policies, Atiku warned against attempting to “tax our way out of the economic quagmire.” He referenced economic models from countries like the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Monaco, which have thrived on lower taxation, and questioned why Nigeria should persist in inflicting more hardship on its people.
Atiku also seized the opportunity to reaffirm his belief that the 2023 presidential election was a sham. “The citizens who cast their votes in the 2023 presidential election are well aware that I did not lose; rather, we find ourselves in this predicament because the election was criminally stolen from the Nigerian people,” he declared.
He further called for a change in course, warning of continued economic and social pain if Tinubu’s administration persists with its “shambolic ‘bolekaja’ economic policies.”
