The Presidency has taken aim at Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the former Vice President and 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), accusing him of advancing plans to privatize the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) by selling it to close allies, if given the chance.
In a strongly worded statement issued by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, the Presidency alleged that Atiku’s economic proposals lack the depth and rigour required to address Nigeria’s pressing economic concerns, labelling them as “untested and lacking substance.” Onanuga further suggested that these very proposals were rejected by the electorate in the 2023 election.
As a prominent opposition figure, Atiku has frequently criticized President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, targeting its handling of economic policies and the rising cost of living that has affected millions of Nigerians. His recent suggestions for resolving the nation’s economic struggles have, however, drawn sharp rebuke from the Presidency.
The statement asserted that Atiku intends to offload public assets, including the NNPC, into the hands of his associates, recalling his role in the controversial privatization of government assets from 1999 to 2003 during his time as Vice President under President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration.
“Nigerians have not forgotten how Abubakar, during his tenure, promised to sell the NNPC and other vital assets to his close friends,” the statement read. “His record in handling the economy, marked by the contentious privatization agenda, still casts doubt on his ability to drive Nigeria toward sustainable growth.”
It added, “As Vice President, Atiku presided over a privatization program that saw vital sectors placed in private hands. Together with his boss, he showed limited commitment to public institutions, opting instead to establish private universities while public educational facilities languished in neglect.”
The Presidency also underscored that President Tinubu’s current economic reforms are aimed at implementing sustainable and transformative solutions, noting that such decisive measures should have been taken by former President Obasanjo and Vice President Atiku during their administration.
