Presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, has come down hard on former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, accusing him of harboring political bitterness and launching unfair attacks against President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
In a fiery statement shared late Thursday on X (formerly Twitter), Onanuga dismissed Atiku’s recent critique of the government as being fueled by personal animosity rather than factual analysis.
“Atiku’s sweeping criticism is unfair and appears to be driven more by animosity than objective analysis,” Onanuga declared, claiming the PDP chieftain continues to ignore the tangible strides the administration has made in just two years.
Onanuga urged Atiku to “acknowledge the significant progress made by this administration—unless he’s still living in Dubai,” referencing Atiku’s previous long stays in the United Arab Emirates.
The presidential aide highlighted bold reforms introduced under Tinubu’s watch, such as the removal of the fuel subsidy and the unification of the exchange rate, arguing that previous administrations—Atiku’s included—lacked the will to implement them.
“Tinubu never promised painless reforms, only necessary ones,” Onanuga said. “He’s rescuing the country from fiscal collapse and laying a solid foundation for inclusive growth.”
He noted that even Atiku had included similar reforms in his campaign manifesto, as did other major candidates in the 2023 election. “The difference is, Tinubu won—and had the courage to act,” Onanuga emphasized.
Reacting to Atiku’s assertion that Tinubu’s policies are “anti-people,” Onanuga pointed to increased investments in social safety nets, a minimum wage hike from N30,000 to N70,000, and some states paying up to N85,000.
On education, Onanuga called Atiku’s claims “entirely off the mark” and cited the implementation of the Student Loan Scheme, which has benefited over 600,000 Nigerian students so far. He even took a jab at Atiku, saying, “The loans don’t cover private institutions like Atiku’s American University in Yola.”
Addressing accusations of reckless borrowing to fund the 2025 budget, Onanuga dismissed the claims as “social media gossip,” noting the Finance Minister had already refuted them. He added that the government is only seeking a modest $1.2 billion in borrowing and has already paid off the $3.4 billion IMF loan from the COVID-19 era.
“This administration has ended the decades-long practice of Ways & Means deficit financing,” Onanuga said. “Revenue has increased, debt service is down, and states are now better funded.”
Quoting President Tinubu’s recent anniversary message, he added:
“Inflation is easing, food production is rising, and the foundation for a more prosperous, just, and inclusive Nigeria is being laid.”
In his closing remarks, Onanuga encouraged Atiku and his allies to engage in constructive criticism rather than baseless attacks.
“We welcome democratic opposition, but Nigerians deserve leaders who offer real solutions, not just recycled grievances and cheap talk.”
