In a pointed response to accusations from the Presidency, Phrank Shaibu, Special Assistant on Public Communication to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, refuted assertions that the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) harbors jealousy towards President Bola Tinubu.
This followed a statement made by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Tinubu on Information & Strategy, who suggested that Atiku’s criticism stemmed from envy due to his repeated unsuccessful bids for the presidency.
Onanuga’s remarks came after Atiku lambasted Tinubu’s policies, arguing they have exacerbated hardship and poverty across Nigeria.
The Presidency claimed that these critiques were aimed at undermining Tinubu’s administration and fueling public discontent.
Shaibu countered these claims on Monday, stating that Atiku had no reason to envy Tinubu, particularly in light of the current administration’s struggles.
“Atiku jealous of Tinubu for inflicting pain on Nigerians? Hell no,” Shaibu said, emphasizing that Tinubu’s performance over the past 18 months had been marked by policy reversals and an apparent lack of preparedness.
He asserted that these missteps had intensified the suffering of Nigerians.
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Critiquing Tinubu’s approach, Shaibu pointed out, “Tinubu’s economic policies have been detrimental, and his governance approach is killing Nigerians. This is what the President should focus on addressing, rather than attacking the opposition.”
He also alluded to previous allegations against Tinubu, adding, “Unlike Tinubu, Atiku is not a bigot, nor has he been involved in scandals related to alleged drug trafficking settlements in the United States
Shaibu denounced the claim that Atiku was motivated by envy as “ludicrous” and accused the administration of deflecting from its responsibilities by targeting political opponents.
“It is disgraceful that rather than prioritizing effective governance, the Presidency resorts to verbal assaults on opposition leaders such as Atiku and Peter Obi while leveraging judicial mechanisms to suppress dissent,” Shaibu remarked.
The exchange highlights the tense political climate and ongoing scrutiny of Tinubu’s economic management as critics point to rising inflation, currency devaluation, and public discontent.
Analysts suggest that such disputes underscore the pressing need for policies that can stabilize the economy and address the challenges facing millions of Nigerians.