The presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has expressed his reservations over Monday’s national broadcast of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Atiku’s position was contained in a statement issued Monday night by his Special Assistant on Public Communications, Phrank Shaibu.
He said Tinubu’s speech was only done in order to convince the organised labour not to embark on a nationwide protest.
“Tinubu’s speech was hurriedly put together in order to dissuade the suffering masses and the organised labour from embarking on protests. Rather than apologise for removing subsidy without providing a cushion for the poor, he went about accusing subsidy thieves of being behind the current suffering. If he is sure of this, why hasn’t he arrested them?” the statement said.
It faulted Tinubu’s claim that “he had for years been an advocate of subsidy removal. This was a man who in 2012 described petrol subsidy removal as “the Goodluck Jonathan tax” and sponsored protests in Lagos state. After he dubiously got to power, he lacked imagination on how to address the issue and then removed the subsidy but without a plan.”
He added: “Tinubu says he will provide N50,000 (roughly $60) to 1, 300 nano businesses. This is reminiscent of the dubious trader moni and the monthly N20,000 spent on the public works programme of the last APC government which not only failed to stimulate the economy but also worsened poverty as funds went into private pockets.
“What mechanism is in place to ensure that poor Nigerians access this? The answer is none. This is nothing but deception as we shall all see in the coming weeks.”
On the federal government’s plan to give 500,000 hectares of land to farmers to boost agriculture, he said: “The Land Use Act puts
lands under the purview of the governors. His so-called plan to provide 500,000 hectares is just part of the deception and a continuation of Buhari’s failed promises. Besides, just on Saturday, farmers were killed and others kidnapped in Birnin Gwari, Kaduna State. Till now, there has not been a word from the Presidential Villa.
“Most of the communities being attacked are agrarian communities which rely on farming. What sort of plan can you implement in the agric sector without first tackling insecurity?”
