Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar criticized President Bola Tinubu for not fulfilling his promise to grow the nation’s economy and alleviate Nigerians’ suffering. After taking office last May, Tinubu implemented various reforms aimed at revitalizing the economy and boosting investment, but these measures have led to a short-term surge in living costs.
One year later, Atiku claims the nation’s economy has deteriorated under Tinubu’s leadership. “Predictably, 12 months on, Tinubu’s pledge of growing the economy and ending misery remains unfulfilled,” Atiku stated in his appraisal of Tinubu’s performance. “His actions or inactions have significantly worsened Nigeria’s macroeconomic stability. Nigeria remains a struggling economy and is more fragile today than it was a year ago. All the economic ills – joblessness, poverty, and misery – which defined the Buhari-led administration have only exacerbated.”
He pointed out that Africa’s leading economy has slipped to the fourth position, now lagging behind Algeria, Egypt, and South Africa. “Citizens’ hopes have been dashed, not renewed as the administration claims, as Nigeria’s economic woes have multiplied,” he added.
Despite Tinubu’s tough economic measures, including the removal of fuel subsidies that have increased living and transportation costs, Atiku argues that Tinubu has “embarked on a cocktail of policies” without concrete plans to achieve the promised economic transformation. “Nigeria remains a struggling economy and is more fragile today than it was a year ago. All the economic ills — joblessness, poverty, and misery — which defined the Buhari-led administration have only exacerbated,” Abubakar said.
