Tinubu: ‘Nigeria’s Economy Crippled Under Your Watch’ – APC Chieftain Knocks Atiku

A former South-East spokesperson for President Bola Tinubu, Josef Onoh, has lampooned former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, for his recent remarks directed at the President.

According to Onoh, Atiku ought not to criticize the incumbent administration, having allegedly watched Nigeria’s economy crippled under his watch while he was a Vice President.

Naija News reports that Atiku, the presidential candidate for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 general elections, had earlier alleged that Tinubu has effectively compromised Nigeria’s future for his benefit and that of his family and associates.

He asserted that President Tinubu mirrors the control he purportedly exerted over Lagos State nationally, citing organizations such as Alpha Beta and Primero to represent Tinubu’s interests.

Atiku contended that this style of governance would solidify Tinubu’s influence even beyond his time in office.

In a prompt rebuttal, Onoh characterized Atiku’s statements as unfounded and deceptive, accusing the former Vice President of provoking public animosity against President Tinubu and his family.

He emphasized that Atiku’s tenure in government, especially during his management of Nigeria’s privatization initiative, was characterized by decisions that led to widespread poverty and unemployment for millions of Nigerians.

“Atiku is the forerunner of the current hardship and poverty in Nigeria. He mortgaged Nigeria’s future to companies his cronies and associates owned, robbing the country of its valuable assets,” he said.

Onoh elaborated on what he characterized as a series of mismanagement issues and corrupt activities during Atiku’s tenure, particularly highlighting the contentious sale of the Federal Secretariat in Ikoyi.

Onoh presented statistics showing that in 2002, manufacturing contributed a mere 6% to Nigeria’s GDP, with the economy contracting by fifty per cent in the initial three years of the Obasanjo-Atiku administration.

“In 2002, under Atiku’s watch, Nigeria’s economy was crippled, leading to the closure of all textile factories and a dramatic increase in unemployment.

“This is the legacy of a man who now dares to accuse President Tinubu of mortgaging our future,” Onoh stated.

Onoh additionally referred to the privatization of significant national assets that occurred during Atiku’s administration, which included the Nigeria Ports Authority, the Nigeria Railway Corporation, and Nigeria Airways.

He asserted that these transactions were executed in a way that primarily favoured Atiku’s associates, ultimately damaging the nation.

“Atiku’s administration sacked thousands of workers, sold off national assets for peanuts, and left the nation with unpaid pensions and massive debts.

“He destroyed industries like NigerDock and NITEL and sold critical infrastructure to cronies at the expense of the Nigerian people,” he stated.

Onoh challenged Atiku to account for the numerous federal assets privatized under his watch.

He accused the former Vice President of using his position to enrich himself and his allies to the detriment of Nigeria’s future.

“A man who supervised the sale of over 145 federal investments as Vice President, without a thought for the future, now dares to accuse President Bola Tinubu of mortgaging our future,” Onoh said, suggesting that Atiku adopt the role of a statesman instead of that of a salesman, encouraging him to consider the enduring impact of his decisions on the country.