Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar rebuffs claims of envy toward President Bola Tinubu, accusing him of inflicting hardship on Nigerians through poorly planned economic policies. Atiku critiques Tinubu’s removal of fuel subsidies, delayed import duty waivers, and failure of the CNG initiative, emphasizing his concern for citizens’ welfare.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar recently responded to remarks from the presidency alleging he was envious of President Bola Tinubu. Atiku, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the 2023 presidential election, criticized Tinubu's economic reforms, claiming they were harming Nigerians and lacked coherent planning.
The controversy began when Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu's special adviser, accused Atiku of opposing Tinubu’s policies out of jealousy. Atiku rebuffed the claim, asserting that his concerns center on the impact of Tinubu’s policies on citizens. Through a statement from his media aide, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku contended that Tinubu’s administration imposes policies before considering the repercussions, pointing to delayed implementation on import duty waivers intended to ease the cost of essential goods.
Highlighting Tinubu's approach to economic challenges, Atiku specifically criticized the removal of fuel subsidies without safety nets, which he believes has exacerbated inflation and worsened living conditions. Atiku argued that the administration’s initiative for compressed natural gas (CNG) as an alternative fuel source has stalled due to a lack of necessary infrastructure.
Atiku further decried Nigeria’s economic standing, noting that the naira’s value has plummeted, making it one of Africa’s worst-performing currencies. He rejected any suggestion that he envies Tinubu, stating that he opposes policies he sees as detrimental to Nigerian citizens.
