The People’s Democratic Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has once again voiced sharp criticism against President Bola Tinubu’s economic policies, urging the administration to end its “shambolic ‘bolekaja’ approach” which he argues is damaging Nigerians’ welfare.
Atiku made these remarks on Monday via his X platform (formerly known as Twitter), in a response to statements by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to the President.
Onanuga had previously alleged that an Atiku-led government would have resulted in further economic hardship for the country, possibly marked by “cronyism.”
In his response, Atiku underscored several economic measures he would have pursued if he had won the election, suggesting that the Tinubu administration could consider some of these alternatives.
He criticized Tinubu’s approach, stating that it lacked coherence and a well-thought-out plan for the nation’s economic recovery.
The Presidency, through Onanuga, dismissed Atiku’s comments, arguing that his proposals lacked substance and were rejected by the Nigerian electorate.
However, Atiku rebuffed this, insisting that the 2023 election was “criminally stolen” from him, which, he claimed, has directly contributed to Nigeria’s current economic challenges.
Atiku further noted, “I have taken note of the initial responses highlighting the striking disparity between President Tinubu’s faltering economic policies and the alternatives I have proposed. 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.”
Pointing to the lack of a detailed economic strategy, Atiku argued that Tinubu’s policies have led to “economic turmoil” and that a swift ascent to power without adequate planning has worsened Nigeria’s situation. He emphasized that his own campaign was built on a “Recovery Plan” that involved comprehensive input from Nigerians to ensure a balanced, inclusive approach.
“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,” Atiku added.
Referencing the administration’s recent national prayer session, Atiku quipped, “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!” He went on to note, “While prayer is indeed noble, scriptures also teach us to engage in diligent labour and hard work.”
Atiku expressed his doubts regarding Tinubu’s policies, describing them as “erratic” and “trial-and-error” in nature. Reflecting on his tenure from 1999 to 2003, he highlighted Nigeria’s strong economic performance, contrasting it with the current administration’s results.
