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

Published

6 months ago

November 10, 2024

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.

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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Governor Yusuf Pays Over 3 Billion for Secondary School Students to Sit for NECO, NABTEB, NBAIS

Published

4 hours ago

May 9, 2025

Nigerian Tracker

The Governor of Kano State, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, has expended over 3 billion naira for 141,175 (one hundred and forty-one thousand, one hundred and seventy-five) Kano students who passed the 2024 qualifying examinations to sit for this year’s WAEC, NECO, NABTEB, and NBAIS (2025).

In a statement issued by the Governor’s Special Adviser on Information, Ibrahim Adam, it was noted that the Commissioner for Education, Ali Haruna Makoda, announced to newsmen in Kano that the State Ministry of Education had released the results of the qualifying examinations for secondary school students in Kano.

These students are studying under the Kano State Teachers Service Board and the Science and Technical Schools Board, where 75 percent of them qualified to write the senior school certificate examinations of WAEC, NABTEB, NECO, and NBAIS (for Arabic students).

Ali Haruna Makoda stated that the students eligible for payment by the Kano State Government under Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf are those who scored five credits and above.

The Commissioner maintained that all secondary school principals and directors should notify their students of their results so that the state government can effect the payment.

The 2025 qualifying exams for WAEC, NECO, and NABTEB will enable the students to sit for their 2025 examinations required for admission into tertiary education.

Ibrahim Adam, the Special Adviser to Governor Yusuf on Information, said that since the inception of the administration in May 2023, it has settled registration fees for Kano indigent students for WAEC, NECO, NABTEB, and NBAIS.

The Special Adviser pointed out that apart from settling the fees, Governor Yusuf’s administration has also paid huge outstanding debts for WAEC, NECO, and NABTEB left behind by former Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje’s administration.

He also said it is part of Governor Yusuf’s declaration of a state of emergency on education and an effort to mitigate the high number of out-of-school children that have bedeviled the state.

News

NWDC Cancels Foreign Scholarship Scheme, Backs FG’s Local Education Policy

Published

10 hours ago

May 9, 2025

Nigerian Tracker

The North West Development Commission (NWDC) has announced the cancellation of its foreign scholarship application process in response to a new policy directive from the Federal Government prioritizing local education.

In a statement issued by the NWDC management on Thursday, May 8, 2025, the commission confirmed that the cancellation is in line with a recent federal directive urging public institutions to focus on strengthening educational capacity within Nigeria.

“This decision follows the Federal Government’s announcement on May 7, 2025,” the statement read. “We are fully committed to aligning our programs and initiatives with national priorities, especially those aimed at promoting local content and indigenous capacity building.”

The Federal Government’s directive was conveyed through a press statement signed by Mrs. Boriowo Folasade, Director of Press and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Education. The statement emphasized the need to redirect resources towards improving domestic institutions and ensuring more Nigerians have access to quality education at home.

“The policy is designed to reduce reliance on foreign academic systems and bolster Nigeria’s educational sector by investing in local universities and training institutions,” Mrs. Folasade said in the official release.

The NWDC reiterated its support for this policy, noting that it will explore new avenues to support educational and human capital development within the region. “The commission will provide updates on further opportunities and programs in due course,” the NWDC statement concluded.

The move is expected to impact hundreds of applicants who had hoped to pursue studies abroad under the commission’s sponsorship but may now need to consider domestic options supported by the commission in future initiatives.

News

Erosion Control :Governor Yusuf Disburses Over N600 Million Compensation

Published

14 hours ago

May 9, 2025

Nigerian Tracker

Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, has disbursed over N600 million to residents of Bulbula and Gayawa who were affected by the ongoing Erosion Control Project.

A statement released on Thursday by the Governor’s Spokesperson, Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, said that the disbursement was organized by the Kano State Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (Kano-ACReSAL), under the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change. The event took place at the Coronation Hall, Government House, Kano.

According to the statement, the project involves the construction of reinforced concrete channels, bioremediation buffers, and other robust erosion control infrastructure.

This initiative aims to reclaim degraded land and restore safety to the affected areas. It is being executed through a collaboration between the state and federal governments, with support from the World Bank.

The statement further elaborated that the project will also strengthen surveillance through the engagement of community vigilantes and the installation of solar streetlights to deter criminal activity that had previously thrived in the abandoned gully area.

In his address, Governor Yusuf stated:
“Today marks a significant step forward in our collective journey to restore dignity, security, and prosperity to the communities of Bulbula and Gayawa.”

He continued:
“I am deeply honored to be here to personally present compensation cheques to the Project Affected Persons (PAPs) under the Resettlement Action Plan (RAP) for the Bulbula-Gayawa Erosion Control Project in Nasarawa and Ungogo Local Government Areas.”

The Governor urged the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the funds, emphasizing:
“Every cheque presented today is a message that the government of Abba Gida-Gida stands with its people, especially during times of hardship and displacement.”

“The compensation being disbursed today is based on thorough enumeration, community engagement, and due diligence. Our approach ensures that every affected citizen is recognized, documented, and fairly treated in accordance with global best practices,” he assured.

Governor Yusuf lamented that:
“The Bulbula-Gayawa erosion menace has brought untold hardship to many. It has claimed farmlands, damaged homes, displaced families, and turned once-thriving neighborhoods into unsafe zones.”

The Governor pledged his administration’s continued support throughout the project’s lifecycle, reiterating that no community would be left behind in the development process.

Governor Yusuf expressed his appreciation to the implementation team under the ACReSAL Project, traditional rulers, community representatives, and relevant stakeholders for their transparency, professionalism, and relentless efforts in ensuring the successful compensation exercise.

Some beneficiaries, Jibril Abdullahi Jibril and Fatima Haruna, expressed their gratitude to the state government for the intervention. They recalled years of advocating for the project, which had been unsuccessful until the present administration took action.