Former presidential candidate for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has publicly criticized President Bola Tinubu over his economic strategies on Monday. He called out Tinubu’s approach as a disorganized “bolekaja” economic framework and described the administration’s reliance on a mere “Tea-plan” as potentially disastrous.
In a statement he authored, Atiku remarked, “I’ve observed the responses regarding the glaring contrast between President Tinubu’s struggling economic tactics and my proposed alternatives. It’s encouraging to see a lively discussion around these pivotal issues, and I truly hope this conversation benefits Nigeria and its citizens.”
Atiku emphasized that many Nigerians share the view that the current economic crisis stems from the Tinubu administration’s swift rise to power without a solid plan. He noted that his team not only created a comprehensive Recovery Plan but also incorporated considerable input from the populace, making their strategy inclusive and well-thought-out.
“Atiku pointed out that the only policy response from the ‘proven’ Tinubu administration seems to be national prayers led by the First Lady and the NSA, appearing just a day after he presented his alternative proposals.
While he acknowledges the value of prayer, he stresses the importance of hard work, stating it’s unfair for Tinubu’s team to label his proposals as untested. What remains unclear is the confusing, experimental nature of the policies enacted by Tinubu’s administration, which has led to the current economic difficulties.
He also reminded that under his leadership between 1999-2003, Nigeria thrived as a dominant economy in Africa, contrasting it with the current administration, which has seen Nigeria drop to a concerning fourth position.
He highlighted the GDP growth rates during his tenure compared to the underwhelming 2.8% growth under Tinubu’s leadership, calling for an end to the ineffective economic measures being pursued.
