Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has criticized President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his comments on the privatisation of the African Democratic Congress. President Tinubu had accused Atiku of attempting to privatise the party, citing his role as chairman of the privatisation council of Nigeria. However, Atiku's camp has described the President's remarks as a "reckless tirade" that exposes his hypocrisy and historical amnesia.
Atiku's Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, issued a statement on his behalf, expressing astonishment that President Tinubu would attempt to discredit others with well-documented records of public service. The statement argued that Tinubu's criticism of privatisation collapses under scrutiny, as he had previously opposed the very reforms he now appears to be implementing.
The statement also defended Atiku's role in Nigeria's economic reforms, citing several companies as evidence of the success of the privatisation programme he supervised. These include Oando Plc, Conoil Plc, and Indorama Eleme Petrochemicals, all described as enduring testaments to policies that unlocked value and revived struggling state enterprises.
The statement further criticised President Tinubu's intellectual posture, noting that his comments betray a failure to engage even the most basic documented history of Nigeria's economic reforms. Atiku's camp also criticised the tone of Tinubu's remarks, saying the President's resort to mockery reflects a deeper leadership problem.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's comments on Atiku Abubakar's role in privatisation are troubling, given his own administration's opaque commercialisation of the national oil company. This lack of transparency will likely hurt ordinary Nigerians who are already struggling with the effects of economic reforms. Atiku's record on privatisation, on the other hand, remains clear and documented, with several successful companies as evidence of his policies. The President's attempt to discredit Atiku only draws attention to the unresolved concerns about his own identity, age, and academic history.
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