The presidency on Sunday fired back at the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Atiku Abubakar, over his proposed economic reforms .
Abubakar had in a post on social media claimed his policy reforms would have shielded Nigeria’s fragile economy from collapse and prevented widespread business failures.
He also described as an “overkill” President Tinubu administration’s decision to remove petrol subsidies, float the exchange rate, and increase the electricity tariffs.
However, the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to the President, Bayo Onanuga, in a statement on Sunday said Abubakar’s ideas lacked substance and were rejected by Nigerians during the 2023 presidential poll.
“Talk is cheap, and it’s easy to paint a flowery to-do list,” Onanuga said, emphasizing that President Tinubu inherited a country facing significant challenges, including fuel subsidies that drained resources and forex market arbitrage.
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He argued that President Tinubu took bold measures to address these issues, which Abubakar and his predecessor should have tackled during their tenure.
“While advocating for gradual reforms may sound appealing, Tinubu took measures that should have been taken decades ago,” he argued.
The presidential aide highlighted that the Tinubu administration prioritizes social safety nets and targeted support for vulnerable individuals affected by recent economic changes.
“Alhaji Abubakar calls for empathy and a human face to reforms. We have no problem with this, as it resonates well with our administration’s focus,” Onanuga concluded.
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