The Presidency has strongly rebutted recent remarks made by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, accusing him of engaging in unfair, partisan attacks against the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, described Atiku’s comments as “vitriolic” and “devoid of objective analysis,” asserting that they stem more from personal animosity than a fair assessment of governance.
“Unless former Vice President Atiku has allowed personal grievances to cloud his judgment, he should, in good conscience, acknowledge the significant progress and achievements recorded by this administration over the past two years,” Onanuga said.
He highlighted that President Tinubu’s administration has initiated the most ambitious and audacious economic and institutional reforms seen in Nigeria in decades. These include the removal of the long-unsustainable fuel subsidy and the unification of the foreign exchange market — steps which successive administrations, including that of the Obasanjo-Atiku era, acknowledged as necessary but failed to implement.
“During the campaign, President Tinubu never claimed the reforms would be painless. What he promised — and has delivered — is a bold rescue from fiscal collapse, laying a solid foundation for long-term, inclusive growth,” Onanuga added.
He noted that the reforms have already yielded results, such as improved government finances, the curbing of systemic corruption, and rising investor confidence. “Since 2023, the Nigerian Exchange has seen its All-Share Index soar from 50,000 to over 110,000. Market capitalization has more than doubled, growing from N30 trillion to N69.4 trillion.”
Onanuga dismissed Atiku’s claims that Tinubu’s policies are “anti-people,” pointing to increased investments in social safety nets, a doubling of the national minimum wage from N30,000 to N70,000, and targeted interventions for low-income households. In some states, civil servants now earn as much as N85,000 monthly — a feat supported by increased federal allocations.
“His claim that education is now out of reach for the poor is false,” Onanuga said. “With the introduction of the Student Loan Scheme, over 600,000 underprivileged students have already benefited. These loans cover both tuition and living allowances. Higher education has never been more accessible.”
The administration, Onanuga said, has also made significant strides in healthcare, including revitalising primary health centres and expanding insurance coverage, while working to reduce the cost of essential medicines.
Responding to Atiku’s allegations regarding borrowing to fund the 2025 budget, Onanuga described the claim as “ignorant and misleading,” clarifying that the Finance Minister has already debunked the rumour, stating that the government plans to borrow only $1.2 billion this year — far less than critics have claimed.
He noted that under Tinubu’s leadership, Nigeria has increased revenue, reduced the debt service-to-revenue ratio from 93% to 60%, paid off a $3.4 billion IMF loan from the COVID-19 era, and discontinued Ways and Means financing for the first time in decades.
“State revenues have improved significantly, empowering subnational governments to deliver local development and pay off debts. This is a positive development even Atiku acknowledged, albeit without crediting the administration responsible for it,” he added.
While acknowledging the hardships associated with reform, Onanuga stressed that the government has taken steps to alleviate the impact and remains committed to building a more prosperous, just, and inclusive Nigeria.
“As President Tinubu said on his second anniversary in office, we have made progress. Inflation is easing, food production is rising, and investments are returning. The gains are plain for all to see — except for those who choose to play blind.”
Onanuga concluded by reaffirming the administration’s commitment to democratic freedoms, noting that opposition figures like Atiku have no reason to fear suppression.
“Criticism is welcome, but it must be constructive. If Atiku wants to oppose government policy, he must also offer viable alternatives. Otherwise, his words will be seen as nothing more than partisan rhetoric.”
“Nigerians deserve opposition leaders who offer solutions, not just noise. We urge citizens to judge this government not by recycled accusations but by its tangible achievements.”
