Former Vice President and opposition leader Atiku Abubakar issued a scathing statement on Sunday, criticizing the economic policies of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and urging immediate action to address the nation’s worsening economic situation.
Atiku, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 election, expressed grave concern about the “intense discourse” surrounding the economy, stating that Nigerians are “rightly so” worried about Tinubu’s “poor response” leading to a “prolonged and deeper domestic economic crisis.”
He specifically critiqued Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope” economic agenda, calling it “ironically dashing hopes, creating pain and causing despair.” Atiku alleged that the agenda is shrinking the private sector, harming small businesses, and driving multinational companies out of the country.
The former Vice President further highlighted the rising cost of living, arguing it has “created more misery for the poor” and resulted in “hunger in the land” as basic necessities like bread become increasingly unaffordable.
Atiku took aim at the 2024 budget, labeling it a “business-as-usual exercise” lacking concrete solutions for economic transformation. He claimed it prioritizes “wasteful expenditures” for a “bloated Federal Government” over empowering citizens and facilitating growth.
He also criticized Tinubu’s handling of the recent fuel subsidy removal and new foreign exchange policy, calling his initiatives “uninformed, arbitrary, and chaotic.” He deemed Tinubu’s proposed palliatives for the poor “too mean, pitiable, and contemptuous.”
Overall, Atiku’s statement paints a stark picture of Nigeria’s economic situation under Tinubu’s leadership and urges swift action to address the growing concerns of the population. It is likely to further ignite political debate and scrutiny of the government’s economic policies.
