Former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar has strongly rejected the notion that he is jealous of President Bola Tinubu, calling it ludicrous. He asserted that such claims were baseless, especially when considering the severe hardships Nigerians are enduring due to Tinubu’s policies. According to Atiku, Tinubu’s economic strategies and governance style are not only hurting Nigerians but also distracting the administration from its core responsibilities. Atiku made these statements in a response to a recent statement by the Presidency on Sunday, communicated by his Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu.
Atiku went on to highlight what he described as the failure of Tinubu's government to deliver on critical promises, especially the suspension of import duties on essential goods like food. He pointed out that while the President had announced in July 2024 that the import duties on these goods would be waived for 150 days, over 120 days had passed with no action taken. Atiku emphasized that, despite this lack of implementation, Nigerians continue to face skyrocketing costs, with food inflation surpassing 40%—the highest it has been in decades.
The former Vice President further criticized Tinubu’s administration for failing to act on its own policies, citing the inaction of the finance ministry which has not issued a gazette on the matter for over four months. Atiku labeled this situation as indicative of “the fatuousness and incompetence” that marks the Tinubu government. He also expressed disappointment that, rather than focusing on effective governance, the administration has been more preoccupied with attacking political opponents like Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi. According to Atiku, the government has been using “compromised courts” to foster division within the opposition, which he called a shameful display.
Atiku continued by reflecting on the poor performance of Tinubu over the last 18 months in office. He asserted that it has become evident that Tinubu came into office unprepared and that his presidency has been characterized by policy inconsistencies and frequent flip-flopping. He pointed to the abrupt removal of the petrol subsidy, which was announced without any preparatory measures, as an example of Tinubu’s lack of foresight. After realizing the negative consequences of that policy, Atiku mentioned that Tinubu hastily introduced a CNG initiative that has failed to take off due to a lack of infrastructure and buy-in from both the president and his ministers, further escalating the transport costs and food prices in the country.
Atiku also expressed concern about the government’s economic projections, particularly the exchange rate forecast in Tinubu’s mid-term expenditure framework. He criticized the unrealistic projections, stating that Tinubu's advisers had placed the exchange rate at N700/$1 for 2024 and N650/$1 for 2025. He pointed out the discrepancy between the government’s claims about foreign exchange reserves and the reality, saying that the true state of the reserves is far less than what is being reported. Atiku called for the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to release its financial statements for 2023 to provide clarity on the actual situation.
Turning his focus to Tinubu’s remaining time in office, Atiku advised that the President should concentrate on improving the lives of Nigerians, as he has just two years left in office. He dismissed the accusation of jealousy, asserting that “Atiku cannot be jealous of Tinubu inflicting pains on Nigerians.” Atiku characterized Tinubu’s actions as “wickedness” and claimed that no compassionate leader would wish to be associated with the suffering of the Nigerian people. He further stated that “wickedness is an exclusive preserve of Tinubu,” and emphasized that any leader who truly cared for the wellbeing of Nigerians would not engage in such practices. He also expressed deep concern over the state of affairs in the country, noting that some disillusioned young Nigerians were even waving Russian flags and calling for military intervention during the recent protests. He warned that leaders should not push citizens to a point where they would prefer drastic measures over enduring their current hardship.
Atiku concluded by remarking on the state of Nigeria’s economy, stating that it has fallen to become the fifth-largest economy in Africa, a dramatic decline from its position as the largest when the APC took over in 2015. He noted that most Nigerians are struggling to meet their basic needs, with many uncertain about where their next meal would come from. Atiku urged President Tinubu to focus on addressing these critical issues rather than engaging in partisan politics. According to him, improving the living conditions of Nigerians should be Tinubu's primary concern, not engaging in petty attacks on his political opponents.