You’re ignorant of happenings around you, Atiku fires back at Onanuga

Former vice president and presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) in the 2023 general elections, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has fired back at presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga who knocked him for criticising the economic policies of President Bola Tinubu.

In a statement on Tuesday by his spokesman, Paul Ibe, Atiku said Onanuga not only demonstrated ignorance of the happenings around him, but had also decided to continue with the APC’s game of blaming others.

“The Presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, failed to provide a credible defence of Bola Tinubu’s failures in tackling the economic challenges facing the country,” the statement reads.

“In his characteristic manner, he resorts to insults and name-calling. He demonstrates ignorance of the happenings around him – as he denies, for example, that Bola Tinubu’s policies are creating excruciating pain and causing despair. We wish to respond to him as follows.

READ ALSO: Your economic policies killing small businesses, Atiku slams Tinubu

“Point 1: Did Atiku Abubakar offer any better policy options in his run for the presidency?

“Yes, he did. His living prescriptions contrast sharply with Bola Tinubu’s morbid policies. Atiku’s policy document, My Covenant With Nigerians, offers a clearly defined and robust roadmap for the socio-political and economic transformation of Nigeria.

“On the economy, the policy document outlines the challenges we face and our vision to get the economy on its feet and create prosperity. If Bayo desires, he can have a copy for free!

“Point 2: That all the major presidential candidates supported the withdrawal of subsidy on PMS.

“But so, what? Even if all the major candidates agreed that the fuel subsidy regime must end and that the multiple exchange rates must be fixed, this would not translate into endorsing Bola Tinubu’s failures in implementation.

READ ALSO: Ibadan Explosion: How Atiku commiserated with victims, people, Government of Oyo

“The truth is that unlike Atiku, Bola Tinubu did not understand the reforms he embarked upon and had no idea what steps to take to mitigate their negative impact.

“As a leader with foresight, Atiku anticipated that the withdrawal of subsidy and the unification of exchange rates could, in the absence of fundamental interventions, impact negatively on micro and small enterprises in the informal sector.

“He anticipated that such policies could elevate the levels of vulnerability and deprivation of poor families. including the youth and adults with no income.

“The former Vice President, therefore, pledged to support Nigeria’s businesses by creating an Economic Stimulus Fund with an initial investment capacity of approximately US$10 billion to prioritize support to MSMEs across all the economic sectors, as they offer the greatest opportunities for achieving inclusive growth.

“The Fund was designed to make it easier for Nigeria’s 60 million micro and small enterprises to navigate the stormy seas in the aftermath of the withdrawal of subsidy on PMS.

“In contrast, Bola Tinubu offered a paltry N125 billion to help the MSMEs, which at today’s exchange rate is no more than $100 million. Of course, Bayo Onanuga is aware that the pledge is yet to be redeemed by the president.

“Atiku also pledged to implement a robust social investment programme to support the poor and vulnerable with CCTs. Atiku’s support to the poor and vulnerable would include prioritized actions to address the challenges of displacement and the sufferings of IDPs across the country.

“In contrast, the funds for Tinubu’s CCT were cornered by his officials in the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs.

“Alongside the Economic Stimulus Fund, Atiku pledged to launch a uniquely designed skills-to-job programme that would target all categories of youth, including graduates, early school leavers as well as the massive numbers of uneducated youth who are currently not in education, employment, or training.

“As a leader of vision, Atiku was ready for the potential fallout of his policies. Bola Tinubu was clearly not ready. It was only after he unleashed his morbid reforms that he started groping in the dark, looking for solutions.

“Would Bayo Onanuga deny that Unilever, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), Procter & Gamble (P&G), Sanofi-Aventi Nigeria, Bolt Food, Equinor etc, had exited Nigeria citing reasons including foreign exchange complexities, security concerns, and high operational costs? Bayo Onanuga must be living in a dream world outside the shores of Nigeria.

“The failure of leadership by the APC-led government is staring every Nigerian in the face as the country’s economic, social, political, and security challenges persist and assume frightening dimensions. An unprepared leadership such as Bola Tinubu’s fails to anticipate impending crisis and is always slow to react.”