Former Vice President and 2023 presidential candidate for People's Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar has vehemently asserted that the 2023 presidential election was manipulated, claiming it was "criminally stolen" by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a statement released on November 4, 2024, Atiku responded to criticisms from President Bola Tinubu's administration, particularly addressing comments made by Tinubu’s media aide, Bayo Onanuga. Onanuga had previously mocked Atiku, suggesting that Nigerians rejected him in favor of Tinubu.
Atiku countered these claims by emphasizing that the citizens who participated in the election are aware that he did not lose, but rather, the election was unlawfully taken from the Nigerian people.
He criticized the current administration's economic policies, describing them as "trial-and-error" and lacking coherence. Atiku argued that these policies have led to significant economic hardship for Nigerians, contrasting them with his proposed comprehensive recovery plan, which he claimed was inclusive and well-considered.
He further highlighted the economic achievements during his tenure as Vice President alongside former President Olusegun Obasanjo, noting that Nigeria's GDP growth peaked at 15% in 2002.
Atiku questioned the rationale behind the current administration's focus on increased taxation, citing examples of countries like the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, which have thrived economically with lower tax rates.
In his critique, Atiku also took a jab at the administration's reliance on national prayers as a policy response, suggesting that while prayer is noble, it should be accompanied by diligent labor and strategic planning.
He concluded by urging the government to reconsider its approach, warning against the continued implementation of what he termed "shambolic 'bolekaja' economic policy prescriptions."
Comments