Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has expressed strong criticism of the current administration led by President Bola Tinubu, stating that if the All Progressives Congress (APC) government has not yet recognized the extent of the suffering among Nigerians, it suggests they were never prepared for governance.
Speaking through his Media Adviser, Paul Ibe, Atiku expressed disappointment that the administration only began paying attention to the desperate conditions Nigerians are facing after people took to the streets in protest. He noted, “There were certainly challenges before now, which is why the mandate was given. We know many things went wrong under Buhari’s administration.”
Atiku further criticized the previous APC administration, led by former President Muhammadu Buhari, for its mishandling of the economy, which fell into recession twice. He also pointed to issues of nepotism and widespread corruption. “Whatever mistakes Buhari made, we are now witnessing them on a larger scale under Tinubu. The divisions under Buhari have widened into craters under this government,” he remarked.
He questioned how the prices of basic food items could decrease when farmers are still unable to return to their farms due to ongoing insecurity. Atiku also brought attention to the controversy surrounding the Dangote Refinery, highlighting that despite the previous administration’s significant investment of $20 billion in taxpayer money, the refinery has not yet met domestic needs or contributed to generating much-needed foreign exchange through exports. “We had hoped by now our domestic needs would be met, and exports would help generate foreign exchange for our development, but instead, we’re left asking questions,” he said.
Atiku went on to question whether the current administration had entered into any agreements with foreign interests that might jeopardize this investment. He concluded by expressing his concern that there is no indication the government is prepared to address the nation’s pressing problems, stating, “Sadly, there is nothing on the horizon to show that this government is ready to solve our nation’s problems.”