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<p>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&#8217;s implosion, according to Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy.</p>
<p>Onanuga suggested that Atiku is envious of Tinubu&#8217;s position, an office he has unsuccessfully sought six times.</p>
<p>&#8220;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,&#8221; Onanuga stated.</p><div class="rxCGqd8n" style="clear:both;float:left;width:100%;margin:0 0 20px 0;"><script async src="https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>

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<p>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.</p>
<p>Onanuga criticized Atiku’s economic analysis, describing it as a significant misunderstanding of Nigeria&#8217;s realities. &#8220;His narrative, &#8216;What We Would Have Done Differently,&#8217; indicates an inability to engage with the pressing economic realities being revitalized under President Tinubu’s leadership,&#8221; he said.</p>
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<p>Onanuga questioned the reforms Atiku would propose at the onset of his hypothetical presidency. &#8220;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,&#8221; he emphasized.</p>
<p>Atiku&#8217;s accusation that President Tinubu &#8220;stole his presidency&#8221; exposed his sense of entitlement and disconnect from the electorate, Onanuga argued. &#8220;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&#8217;s power rotation arrangement,&#8221; he added.</p>
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<p>Onanuga highlighted the urgent need for action in the Nigerian economy, which was in dire need of immediate intervention. &#8220;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,&#8221; he noted.</p>
<p>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&#8217;s economy. &#8220;The country needed a proactive leader such as Tinubu, who immediately set to work on addressing economic challenges,&#8221; he said.</p>
<p>Onanuga dismissed Atiku&#8217;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. &#8220;As of mid-2023, the landing cost of fuel was between N500 and N600, while it was sold nationwide at an average of N200,&#8221; he explained.</p>
<p>Onanuga emphasized the importance of engaging with urgent realities rather than conjuring imaginary scenarios. &#8220;The estimated N5.4 trillion savings from subsidy removal in 2024 are being actively directed toward infrastructure development and social intervention programmes,&#8221; he stated.</p>
<p>He also highlighted the significant increase in revenue generation under the Tinubu administration. &#8220;Without factoring in oil sales, revenue proceeds generated by the Federal Inland Revenue Service almost doubled in the first half of 2024,&#8221; Onanuga noted.</p>
<p>Atiku’s proposal to privatize the four government-owned refineries was criticized for lacking originality. &#8220;In 2007, investors were only willing to offer $160 million for 51% equity in the Port Harcourt Refinery,&#8221; Onanuga recalled.</p>
<p>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. &#8220;Today, most public enterprises Atiku sold have been stripped and become dead assets,&#8221; he said.</p>
<p>He praised the Tinubu administration&#8217;s approach to revitalizing refineries while supporting modular refineries and the Dangote Refinery. &#8220;This approach will guarantee domestic production and stabilize retail prices by reducing foreign exchange challenges,&#8221; Onanuga explained.</p>
<p>Regarding Atiku&#8217;s allegations of corruption within the NNPC, Onanuga argued that the fuel subsidy had historically been the leading corruption enabler. &#8220;President Tinubu&#8217;s removal of this subsidy eliminated the most significant incentive for corruption within the NNPC,&#8221; he stated.</p>
<p>Onanuga criticized Atiku&#8217;s suggestion of phased-out subsidy removal as an outdated approach. &#8220;Rather than pushing for unrealistic timelines, Atiku should recognize the necessity of President Tinubu&#8217;s bold reforms,&#8221; he said.</p>
<p>He urges Atiku to abandon his politics of distraction and focus on constructive discourse. &#8220;President Tinubu remains focused on leading Nigeria toward a prosperous future and addressing our nation&#8217;s real challenges,&#8221; Onanuga affirmed.</p>
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