ABUJA — Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has criticized President Bola Tinubu’s administration, describing it as “incompetent” and “unprepared” in tackling Nigeria’s economic challenges. Atiku, who was the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate in the 2023 election, stated on Monday that he “cannot be jealous” of Tinubu’s administration, given its policies which he claims are worsening the plight of Nigerians.
In a statement by his Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku lamented the rising cost of living, highlighting that food inflation has surged past 40%, a record high in recent decades.
“On July 8, 2024, Tinubu announced that import duties on essential goods like food would be lifted for 150 days,” Atiku said. “Yet, over 120 days later, the policy is yet to take effect, leaving Nigerians to struggle with skyrocketing prices. This reflects the fatuousness, inanity, and incompetence that characterizes the Tinubu administration.”
Atiku further accused Tinubu’s government of “policy flip-flops” and lack of preparedness. “Tinubu was clearly unprepared for office. He acts first and thinks of the consequences later,” Atiku argued, referencing the removal of the petrol subsidy without adequate measures to cushion the impact.
He also criticized the administration’s handling of the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) initiative, which he said has failed to lower transportation costs due to inadequate infrastructure. “Transport costs keep rising, along with food prices,” he noted.
The former Vice President condemned the government’s “politicization of security,” citing appointments of Tinubu’s associates to key economic and security roles. “Even on the economy, he put his kinsmen in every critical position from finance to customs,” Atiku said, calling Tinubu’s approach “more brazen” than that of his predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari.
Atiku also expressed concern over the emergence of a new terror group, Lakurawa, and urged the government to prioritize national security and economic stability.
He concluded by pointing out that Nigeria’s currency has become the “worst performing in Africa,” and urged the President to focus on governance, warning, “Most Nigerians are at their wits’ end, not knowing where their next meal will come from. This should be Tinubu’s biggest concern instead of fiddling while the country burns.”
