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Tinubu’s Adviser Criticizes Atiku Abubakar’s Post-Election Conduct

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Since his defeat in the last election, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has shown more interest in undermining President Bola Ahmed Tinubu than in addressing his party’s implosion, according to Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy.

Onanuga suggested that Atiku is envious of Tinubu’s position, an office he has unsuccessfully sought six times.

“It is perplexing that he would elevate his untested, hypothetical proposal, which Nigerians soundly rejected during the 2023 Presidential Election, and seek to present it as a superior alternative to the multi-faceted reform programmes implemented by the Tinubu administration,” Onanuga stated.

He added that Atiku must acknowledge that merely repackaging his plan will not resolve the social and economic challenges left by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) after 16 years in power.

Onanuga criticized Atiku’s economic analysis, describing it as a significant misunderstanding of Nigeria’s realities. “His narrative, ‘What We Would Have Done Differently,’ indicates an inability to engage with the pressing economic realities being revitalized under President Tinubu’s leadership,” he said.

Onanuga questioned the reforms Atiku would propose at the onset of his hypothetical presidency. “While he suggests a consultation period upon assuming office, the reality is that the Nigerian economy requires immediate and decisive action. A leader must be prepared to tackle challenges from Day One, as President Tinubu has done,” he emphasized.

Atiku’s accusation that President Tinubu “stole his presidency” exposed his sense of entitlement and disconnect from the electorate, Onanuga argued. “The truth is that Tinubu rightfully won the presidency, a position Atiku was simply unqualified for due to his arrogance, insensitivity to Nigeria’s diversity, and the decision to disregard his party’s power rotation arrangement,” he added.

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Onanuga highlighted the urgent need for action in the Nigerian economy, which was in dire need of immediate intervention. “The Tinubu administration came prepared with a firm action plan to address the shortcomings that persisted during President Olusegun Obasanjo’s time when Atiku was vice president,” he noted.

Speculating on the potential impact of Atiku’s proposed lengthy town hall and Village Square meetings, Onanuga suggested that such an approach would have been detrimental to Nigeria’s economy. “The country needed a proactive leader such as Tinubu, who immediately set to work on addressing economic challenges,” he said.

Onanuga dismissed Atiku’s critiques of Tinubu’s presidency as harebrained propositions devoid of realistic alternatives. He pointed out the decades of mismanaged economy inherited by the current administration, including exorbitant subsidy expenditures. “As of mid-2023, the landing cost of fuel was between N500 and N600, while it was sold nationwide at an average of N200,” he explained.

Onanuga emphasized the importance of engaging with urgent realities rather than conjuring imaginary scenarios. “The estimated N5.4 trillion savings from subsidy removal in 2024 are being actively directed toward infrastructure development and social intervention programmes,” he stated.

He also highlighted the significant increase in revenue generation under the Tinubu administration. “Without factoring in oil sales, revenue proceeds generated by the Federal Inland Revenue Service almost doubled in the first half of 2024,” Onanuga noted.

Atiku’s proposal to privatize the four government-owned refineries was criticized for lacking originality. “In 2007, investors were only willing to offer $160 million for 51% equity in the Port Harcourt Refinery,” Onanuga recalled.

Onanuga accused Atiku of overseeing the sale of the nation’s assets to private individuals and cronies at low prices during his tenure as vice president. “Today, most public enterprises Atiku sold have been stripped and become dead assets,” he said.

He praised the Tinubu administration’s approach to revitalizing refineries while supporting modular refineries and the Dangote Refinery. “This approach will guarantee domestic production and stabilize retail prices by reducing foreign exchange challenges,” Onanuga explained.

Regarding Atiku’s allegations of corruption within the NNPC, Onanuga argued that the fuel subsidy had historically been the leading corruption enabler. “President Tinubu’s removal of this subsidy eliminated the most significant incentive for corruption within the NNPC,” he stated.

Onanuga criticized Atiku’s suggestion of phased-out subsidy removal as an outdated approach. “Rather than pushing for unrealistic timelines, Atiku should recognize the necessity of President Tinubu’s bold reforms,” he said.

He urges Atiku to abandon his politics of distraction and focus on constructive discourse. “President Tinubu remains focused on leading Nigeria toward a prosperous future and addressing our nation’s real challenges,” Onanuga affirmed.

 

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Uber Shutdowns Operations in Nigeria

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By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

Ride-hailing company, Uber, has shut down its operations in Nigeria.

In a statement, the company, which came into Nigeria in 2014, said its exit is effective from September 2, 2026.

“We are writing to share some difficult news. After a thorough review of our business, we have made the tough decision to wind down our operations in Nigeria, effective 2 September 2026.

“Since we first launched in Lagos in 2014, it has been an absolute privilege to be a part of your daily life connecting you with independent transportation providers.

“Whether it was a morning commute, a ride to see loved ones, or exploring the city, thank you for trusting the platform to connect you to a driver to get you there safely. We know this may cause disruption to your routine, and we sincerely apologize for the inconvenience.”

In a memo on Wednesday, the ride-hailing company also announced elimination of roughly 3,300 positions.

The job cuts focused on management and coordination roles, according to its CEO, Dara Khosrowshahi.

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“Today, we’re making a number of significant organizational changes across Uber. We are removing layers, simplifying team structures, refining our global location strategy, and focusing our people and investments against the biggest opportunities ahead of us.”

“As a result, we will be reducing the size of our team by about 10%. Everyone whose role has been affected has already been notified, except in countries where we will follow the required local process.

“This wasn’t a decision we made lightly, because it will have a real impact on our teammates and friends who have worked hard for Uber. It’s important to say that these changes are about how we’re organized and what we’re prioritizing, not about anyone’s contributions to Uber, which we will always value.

“I’m sure you’re asking, ‘Why, and why now?’ particularly since our business is performing so well. Over the last 5+ years, Uber has grown by orders of magnitude, with our top line nearly tripling. We’ve built new products, expanded into new businesses, reached more consumers and supported more earners, and become a much larger and stronger company. But that growth has also brought complexity: more layers, more coordination, more fragmented ownership, and in some cases structures that made sense when businesses were smaller but no longer serve us well at our current scale.

“Our opportunity from here is enormous: we have the chance to bring Uber to hundreds of millions more people; to invest even more in drivers, couriers and merchants; and to innovate across our core businesses and build the autonomous future.

“The changes we’re making today are designed to do two things: make Uber simpler and faster, and create more capacity to invest in our future. A leaner organization will mean clearer ownership, faster decisions, and more time spent building rather than coordinating. It will also generate savings that we intend to reinvest in growth, innovation, and the capabilities that will matter most over the coming years.

“It’s our job as leaders to make these difficult calls, and to give you transparency into our thinking and our decision-making process.”

The layoffs are the latest round of job cuts for Uber, which eliminated roles in customer service and HR earlier this year.

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Author of ‘Rich Dad Poor Dad’ Languishes in Billion Dollar Debt

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By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

Robert Kiyosaki, the author of the bestselling ’Rich Dad Poor Dad’ book, has accumulated an estimated $1.2 billion debt connected to his aggressive real estate investment.

According to reports, the debt is the estimated amount the 79-year-old author and his business partners borrowed to acquire approximately 1,500 property units as Mr Kiyosaki continues to expand his real estate holdings.

Despite the significant debt, Mr Kiyosaki does not appear apprehensive about the liabilities, maintaining that borrowing money to acquire income-generating assets is a strategy commonly used by wealthy individuals.

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“So, I’m a billion two in debt,” the author said on the ‘Get Rich Education’ podcast recently, adding that people “should not do what I do, right? But I studied it since 1974… If you’re going to learn to use debt, you’d better take some education.”

In a recent interview with Vanity Fair, Mr Kiyosaki’s ex-wife and business partner, Kim Kiyosaki, revealed that the debt did not reflect the amount her ex-husband personally owes.

She stressed that it is connected to the real estate properties owned by them and their business partners, adding that Mr Kiyosaki’s personal share of the liabilities is small.

Vanity Fair estimated Mr Kiyosaki’s share of the debt at around $30 million to $60 million.

“We have a lot of apartment houses with our partners. So technically, yes, we have all this debt,” the ex-wife told Vanity Fair.

Speaking to the magazine, Mr Kiyosaki stated, “If it all comes to hell, you can talk to my attorney. Firewalls—that’s the way the rich play the game.”

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Maulud: Best Choice Specialist Hospital Congratulates Kano Governor, Muslims Globally

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The Chairman of Best Choice Specialist Hospital, Kano, Auwal Lawal Muhammad (Dan Malikin Garo), has congratulated the executive governor of Kano State Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, the good people of Kano State and Muslims across the world on the occasion of the Maulud celebration commemorating the birth of Prophet Muhammad (SAW).

In a statement he personally signed, Lawal commended Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf for his efforts towards fostering unity among the people of Kano State.

According to the statement, the chairman was amazed on how governor Yusuf placing emphasis on the development to the state particularly in matters concerning religion, saying such initiatives would help reduce divisions, promote mutual understanding and strengthen peaceful coexistence across the state.

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He urged Muslims to use the occasion of Maulud to strengthen their relationship with Allah through increased devotion and prayers for peace, stability and prosperity in Nigeria and Kano State.

The Chairman of Best Choice also praised the Governor for his efforts to improve the healthcare sector in the state.

He cited the renovation and upgrading of healthcare facilities, provision of modern medical equipment, as well as the training and development of healthcare workers as some of the administration’s efforts towards improving healthcare delivery in Kano.

Auwal Lawal further commended Governor Yusuf for his dedication, compassion and commitment to the wellbeing of the people, noting that his efforts continue to have a positive impact on the lives of residents across the state.

He prayed for continued peace, unity and prosperity in Kano State and Nigeria, while wishing the Governor and the people of Kano a blessed Maulud celebration now and beyond.

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