Tell Nigerians what you would have done better, Presidency tackles Atiku

Tell Nigerians what you would have done better, Presidency tackles Atiku

The presidency has  strongly rebuffed Peoples Democratic Party Presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar’s criticisms of the Tinubu administration’s economic policies, calling Atiku’s interventions “uninformed and pedestrian.”

In a statement by the special adviser information and strategy to the president, Bayo Onanuga said Atiku has failed to offer substantive alternatives beyond the reforms already being implemented by President Tinubu.

“Atiku’s latest diatribe was another uncharitable commentary on the state of the economy and the efforts of the President Bola Tinubu administration in remoulding it for sustained prosperity,”

The presidency pointed out that during the election, Atiku’s only major difference with Tinubu on economic policy was on privatizing national assets, which the presidency alleged would have only benefitted Atiku’s friends.

Defending its reforms, the presidency said short-term pain is inevitable to fix the “grim economic reality” inherited from previous administrations.

However, the presidency expressed confidence the current policies will lead to long-term prosperity.

“Instead of mouthing platitudes, Alhaji Atiku should tell Nigerians what he would have done better if elected president,” he  challenged.

Onanuga dismissed Atiku as an ineffective opposition leader attempting cheap political points rather than substantive engagement on policy.

Despite Atiku’s criticisms, the presidency affirms it will continue implementing President Tinubu’s economic.

READ ALSO:

• Unknown assailants stab Ondo varsity student to death
• Davido, Olamide other Nigerian artists lose all Grammy nominations
• Boko Haram terrorists launch deadly attack, kill 2 in INEC collation center

He  defended the government’s decision to end fuel subsidies and harmonize exchange rates, arguing these necessary reforms will boost Nigeria’s economy in the long run.

Onanuga  also rejected Atiku’s claim that multinational companies are leaving Nigeria “in droves,” countering that investors have responded positively to the administration’s fiscal and monetary policies.

As evidence, the statement cited the strong performance of the Nigerian Stock Exchange under Tinubu.

He said “Nigerians can easily see through the hypocrisy of Alhaji Atiku, who in accusing President Tinubu of poor response to the nation’s challenges and causing pains and despair, didn’t offer any better policy options in his run for the Presidency different from the economic reform agenda being pursued by President Tinubu.

“All the major candidates agreed that the fuel subsidy regime, which had become an albatross on the economy, must end. They all agreed that the multiple exchange rates must be fixed. Where President Tinubu and Atiku differed was in selling NNPC Limited and other national assets. Atiku went for this so he could sell these important national assets to his friends and cronies.