Hardship Due To Tinubu’s Hasty Ascent To Power, Devoid Of Plan — Atiku

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Mocks His Govt Over National Prayer To Fix Economy LAGOS – Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has fired back at Pres­ident Bola Tinubu, saying that Nigeria’s economic turmoil is due to his hasty ascent to power, which is devoid of coherent plan. Recall that the presidential candidate of the Peoples Demo­cratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 gen­eral election had suggested that Tinubu’s government borrow from his manifesto in tackling the economic challenges in the country. The presidency picked holes with that statement and lampooned the former vice president.



Responding to the pres­idency’s remark in a state­ment on Monday, Atiku stressed that he had taken note of the initial respons­es highlighting the striking disparity between President Tinubu’s faltering economic policies and the alternatives he proposed. The statement reads, “It is exciting to witness such a vigorous debate on these critical matters, and I sin­cerely hope that this dis­course will ultimately ben­efit Nigeria and its citizens. “Like many fellow Nige­rians, I firmly believe that we find ourselves in this current economic turmoil due to the Tinubu admin­istration’s hasty ascent to power, devoid of a coherent plan.

“In stark contrast, my team not only devised a comprehensive Recovery Plan, but also welcomed significant input from Ni­gerians, ensuring that our approach was inclusive and well-considered. “Isn’t it fascinating how the so-called ‘tested’ Tinubu administration’s only policy response seems to be a na­tional prayer led by the First Lady and the NSA? Just a mere 24 hours after I pro­posed my alternative solu­tions! What a bold strategy!” Speaking further Atiku said, “In my humble inter­pretation of the scriptures, prayer indeed serves as a no­ble path to follow. However, the sacred texts also counsel us to engage in diligent la­bour and hard work.

“It is therefore unchari­table for Tinubu’s team to claim that my proposals remain untested. What re­mains unproven is the er­ratic, trial-and-error nature of the policies so far imple­mented by this administra­tion, which elucidates our present predicament. “Let us not forget that under our economic stew­ardship between 1999 and 2003, Nigeria soared to the pinnacle of Africa’s econ­omies, while their admin­istration has relegated us to a disheartening fourth position.

“The average GDP rate under the Obasanjo admin­istration that I served in was 6.59% and peaked at 15% in 2002; 7.98% under the late Yar’Adua administration and 4.

8% under Jonathan compared to the dismal 2.8% of the so-called “test­ed” Tinubu era. Enough of the pains of the shambolic “bolekaja” economic policy prescriptions! “We cannot hope to tax our way out of the eco­nomic quagmire wrought by these misguided experi­mental policies of a novice administration.

Numerous nations, such as the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Monaco (an EU territory with a zero-income tax pol­icy), among many others, have emerged as economic powerhouses by fostering growth through lower tax­ation. Why then are we fix­ated on inflicting further hardship upon an already struggling populace? “One can only speculate that Tinubu’s government is anchored to a mere Tea-plan, which can only lead to a T-pain. “Furthermore, let me emphasise that the citizens who cast their votes in the 2023 presidential election are well aware that I did not lose; rather, we find our­selves in this predicament because the election was criminally stolen from the Nigerian people.

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