Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has criticized President Bola Tinubu’s economic policies, describing them as detrimental to Nigerians. Through his Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku asserted that the President should focus on addressing these issues rather than attacking opposition figures.

Atiku highlighted the delay in implementing Tinubu’s July 8, 2024 announcement to waive import duties on essential goods for 150 days, a policy intended to address soaring food prices. He noted that despite more than 120 days passing, the policy remains inactive, leaving Nigerians burdened by a 40% food inflation rate, the highest in decades.

“This failure to implement critical policies exposes the incompetence within Tinubu’s administration,” Atiku said, criticizing what he called the administration’s focus on disparaging opponents instead of prioritizing governance.

Atiku argued that Tinubu’s approach over the past 18 months has been characterized by unpreparedness and policy inconsistency. “Tinubu acts first and considers consequences later. This was evident in his abrupt removal of the petrol subsidy without adequate relief measures,” he said, citing the continued failure of the CNG initiative due to insufficient infrastructure, which has exacerbated transportation and food costs.

Atiku also criticized Tinubu’s economic projections, pointing out that recent forecasts indicate an exchange rate far weaker than projected. He challenged Tinubu’s statements on foreign exchange reserves, urging the Central Bank of Nigeria to release its 2023 financial statements to verify the actual reserve figures.

The former Vice President also expressed concern over new security threats, such as the emergence of a terrorist group known as Lakurawa, which he argued, in addition to infrastructure disruptions in the north, should demand the President’s attention. Atiku alleged that Tinubu’s appointments in key security and economic roles have been skewed towards his close associates, a pattern he criticized as politically motivated.

“Even in economic leadership, Tinubu has placed his allies in nearly every key position, including finance, trade, customs, and tax administration,” Atiku said. “Such moves ignore the pressing need for diverse, competent leadership in times of economic challenge.”

Atiku also took aim at the President’s decision to commit $13 billion to the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway, suggesting that this investment prioritizes the interests of Tinubu’s associates over other urgent national issues. He argued that such priorities reflect poor fiscal management at a time when Nigeria faces severe revenue shortages.

Refuting claims that he is envious of Tinubu, Atiku remarked, “It is absurd to suggest I am jealous of Tinubu’s actions, which only deepen hardship for Nigerians. No leader who genuinely cares about Nigerians’ welfare would take pride in causing such suffering.”

He expressed his concerns about Nigeria’s declining economic standing, noting that the country’s currency is now the worst-performing in Africa and that Nigeria has dropped to the fifth largest economy on the continent, a significant decline since 2015.

Atiku concluded by urging Tinubu to focus on substantive reforms that improve Nigerians’ lives, warning that public frustration is reaching a critical level. “Nigerians deserve governance that prioritizes their wellbeing rather than rhetoric. It’s time for leadership focused on recovery and growth, not conflict and division,” he said.