Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has fired back at President Bola Tinubu over remarks concerning his role in Nigeria’s privatisation programme, insisting that his record cannot be misrepresented.
The response follows comments by Tinubu, who accused Atiku of attempting to privatise the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and described his past involvement in national privatisation efforts as unsuccessful.
Atiku’s rebuttal was conveyed in a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, who characterised the president’s comments as a “reckless tirade” marked by “hypocrisy and historical amnesia.”
According to the statement, Tinubu’s criticism contradicts the policies of his own administration.
Shaibu argued that Atiku has consistently advocated for structural reforms, including the privatisation of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the sale of state-owned refineries to private investors.
He alleged that the current government is pursuing similar policies but without adequate transparency, describing the approach as “privatisation without accountability.”
“You cannot oppose reform when it demands courage and then execute a shadow version of it in power,” the statement read, accusing the president of reducing serious economic discourse to political attacks.
Shaibu further said Tinubu’s remarks reflect a reluctance to engage with verifiable records, adding that leadership should be grounded in facts rather than rhetoric.
The statement also highlighted the country’s current economic challenges, noting that rising inflation and declining purchasing power have worsened living conditions for many Nigerians.
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“Across the country, families are skipping meals, businesses are shutting down, and citizens are watching their incomes erode,” Shaibu said.
“What has been presented as reform has translated into hardship without relief.”
He maintained that Atiku’s public service record remains “clear, documented, and defensible,” while cautioning against personal attacks in political discourse.
The exchange marks the latest in a series of verbal clashes between the presidency and Atiku’s camp, as political tensions continue to build ahead of future electoral contests.
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