Connect with us

NEWS

BREAKING: Presidency Urges Atiku To End Grand Illusions, Fantasies

Published

on

 

The political warfare between the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gained momentum with increased firepower from the Presidency on Sunday.

The Special Adviser to the President, Information & Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, fired the salvo in a statehouse statement in  Abuja, on Sunday.

According to the statement, issued under the subject ‘time for Atiku Abubakar to end his grand illusions and fantasies,’ the “former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has shown more interest in undermining President Bola Ahmed Tinubu than in addressing his party’s implosion”.

He declared “We can only urge him to purge himself of the petty, derisive politics of a sore loser.”

ALSO READ: Atiku Congratulates Trump, Calls For Support For Free, Fair Elections In Nigeria

Political pundits are of the view that the hot exchange between the gladiators is setting the tone for Nigeria’s 2027 presidential election.

Onanuga wrote, “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. We suspect he 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. If his plan lacked popular appeal, he must acknowledge that merely repackaging it will not resolve the social and economic challenges his People’s Democratic Party (PDP) bequeathed after 16 years in power.

“Atiku’s economic analysis demonstrates 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 revitalised multidimensionally under President Tinubu’s leadership.

“What reforms would Atiku propose at the onset of his hypothetical and fabled 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.

“Atiku, going further to accuse President  Tinubu of “stealing his presidency,”  exposed his sense of entitlement and his disconnect from the electorate. 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 between the North and the South after eight years of President Muhammadu Buhari.

“Atiku’s idea of a consultation period upon entering office shows a troubling lack of awareness regarding the state of the economy, which was in dire need of urgent action. 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.

“We can only speculate what detrimental impact Atiku’s proposed lengthy town hall and Village Square meetings would have had on Nigeria’s economy if he had been elected president and taken such an approach. The country needed a proactive leader such as Tinubu, who immediately set to work on addressing economic challenges rather than one who would have squandered precious time on consultations and a questionable privatisation agenda.

“Atiku’s critiques of Tinubu’s presidency are mere harebrained propositions devoid of realistic alternatives. He must reckon with the decades of mismanaged economy inherited by the current administration, including exorbitant subsidy expenditures far exceeding government earnings from crude oil. As of mid-2023, the landing cost of fuel was between N500 and N600, while it was sold nationwide at an average of N200. The 2023 budget allocated N3.36 trillion for fuel subsidies until June 2023 against a projected N2.23 trillion in oil revenue for the year. The Nigerian state was on life support.

“Instead of conjuring imaginary scenarios, we expect the former vice president to engage with these urgent realities.

“The estimated N5.4 trillion savings from subsidy removal in 2024 are being actively directed toward infrastructure development and social intervention programmes, initiatives that will benefit all tiers of government and enhance Nigerians’ quality of life.

“We expect Atiku to commend what the Tinubu administration has done concerning revenue generation for the Federation. Without factoring in oil sales, revenue proceeds generated by the Federal Inland Revenue Service almost doubled in the first half of 2024, compared with the level Tinubu met in 2023. The states and councils are more prosperous because of it, as many states have increased the minimum wage for their workers to between N70,000 and N85,000.

“Atiku’s proposal to privatise the four government-owned refineries, which collectively can only meet a fraction of the nation’s daily fuel consumption when activated, lacks originality.

“In 2007, investors were only willing to offer $160 million for 51% equity in the Port Harcourt Refinery, while the Kaduna Refinery had an offer of $102 million. According to industry experts and the late President Umar Musa Yar’Adua, Nigeria’s Head of State at the time, who cancelled the sale of the refineries by the Obasanjo-Atiku government, the offered bids were considered scrap value.

“As vice president, Atiku oversaw the sale of the nation’s assets to private individuals and cronies at low prices. Today, most public enterprises Atiku sold have been stripped and become dead assets.

“The model of farming the completely rehabilitated refineries to private sector managers at an agreed-upon rate of return to the government, as adopted by Tinubu’s government, is more practical and value-laden than selling our national patrimony to some private interests that are not technically capable of operating the refineries. The Tinubu administration focuses on revitalising these refineries while supporting modular refineries and the Dangote Refinery, which has greater capacity.

“This approach will guarantee domestic production and stabilise retail prices by reducing foreign exchange challenges. It includes selling crude oil to the refineries in Naira, enabling potential cost reductions that could reflect in retail prices.

“Regarding Atiku’s allegations of corruption within the NNPC, the fuel subsidy has historically been the leading corruption enabler in the state-owned oil company. President Tinubu’s removal of this subsidy eliminated the most significant incentive for corruption within the NNPC. During his eight-year tenure as Vice President, Atiku and his boss had an opportunity to address this issue but failed to make any significant reforms in the oil sector.

“In any case, is it not ironic that an Atiku, who was entangled in corruption allegations, including one in which his wife was indicted and his business associate, former US Congressman William Jefferson, was jailed for 13 years, is now talking about corruption matters?

“The suggestion of phased-out subsidy removal is an outdated approach that has historically led to fiscal challenges for countries like Indonesia, which Atiku references. Nigeria has gradually phased out subsidies since 1978, with numerous adjustments made. Fuel prices were adjusted 22 times between 1978 and 2020. Rather than pushing for unrealistic timelines, Atiku should recognise the necessity of President Tinubu’s bold reforms.

“Notably, while Atiku peddles his economic fantasies, he has yet to denounce President Tinubu’s removal of the fuel subsidy because he knows that the reform was necessary and correct. We can only urge him to purge himself of the petty, derisive politics of a sore loser.

“To alleviate the effect of the fuel subsidy removal on the very poor and vulnerable, the Tinubu administration has embarked on an active social intervention campaign involving cash transfers and the distribution of palliatives. So far, 20 million Nigerians are being targeted for direct cash transfers, an established social protection mechanism described as economically transformative by the World Bank and many development partners. The Tinubu administration has designed well-targeted social inclusion programmes, including student loans, consumer credits, and the Presidential CNG Initiative, all initiated within the first 12 months.

“In his foreign exchange management proposal, Atiku declared that a fixed exchange rate system was out of the question. Yet his managed float proposal, another gradualist approach, is still the same as the old fixed exchange rate system, which stagnated the national economy by subsidising forex up to $1.5 billion monthly to a privileged few.

“Atiku should remember that a managed float is also known as a dirty float because of its inherent flaws. The system combines elements of fixed and floating exchange rates. The CBN will still have to set the exchange rate and make it available to people and businesses. Access is not guaranteed to all, as it is now.

“In conclusion, Atiku’s economic proposals fail to present a viable alternative to Tinubu’s decisive reforms. We encourage him to reassess his approach and repair his reputation as a statesman. The rejection of his proposals in the 2023 election indicates that Nigerians will be reluctant to entertain his future political ambitions.

“President Tinubu remains focused on leading Nigeria toward a prosperous future and addressing our nation’s real challenges. Atiku Abubakar should abandon his politics of distraction and fantasies and focus on constructive discourse.”

 

 

NEWS

BREAKING: Ohanaeze Ndigbo Elects Former Senator, Mbata As New Leader

Published

on

Senator John Azuta Mbata, a former lawmaker who represented Rivers East Senatorial District in the National Assembly, has emerged as the new President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide.

His election took place during a stakeholders’ meeting of the prominent Igbo socio-cultural organization held on Friday at the Old Government Lodge in Enugu, the capital of Enugu State.

 

 

 

 

Details shortly………. 

Continue Reading

NEWS

Presidency Fires Back At Gov Bala Mohammed Over Criticism Of Tinubu’s Leadership

Published

on

The Presidency has responded sharply to recent remarks by Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, who criticized President Bola Tinubu’s administration, accusing him of not listening to the people.

Mohammed made the statements during a conversation with Sheikh Sani Jingir, the National Chairman of the Ulama Jama’atu Izalatul Bid’ah Wa’Ikamatis Sunnah, while discussing the state of the nation.

READ MORE: Rewane Backs Telecom Tariff Hike, Says It Will Reduce Inflation

“We are not on good terms with him (Tinubu) because our brothers and sisters are suffering. Even we, the governors, are suffering. Aside from his policies, he does not listen to us,” Mohammed said, highlighting that the northern region has been particularly affected by the president’s policies.

He also expressed concern that the proposed tax reforms would further exacerbate poverty in the region.

In response, the presidency issued a statement on Friday through President Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare.

The statement sharply criticized the governor’s remarks, labeling them as “irresponsible politics.”

“Governor Bala should face governance and stop using President Tinubu to burnish his vanishing image. Governor Bala is playing irresponsible politics.

“Rather, he should occupy himself with dealing with the many problems of his state. Ambition is made of sterner stuff,” the statement read.

The Presidency reiterated that President Tinubu is focused on reviving the economy and fulfilling the promises made during the 2023 election.

“President Tinubu is focused on revamping the economy, and he is working to turn the economic fortunes of the country around. He has a four-year mandate to deliver on his promises,” Dare stated, emphasizing that Nigerians will soon see the benefits of the administration’s reforms.

Further defending the president’s leadership, the statement stressed that President Tinubu is committed to collaborating with state leaders and other stakeholders to improve the country’s overall well-being.

“The focus of this government is on how to build stronger collaborations with sub-nationals and other critical stakeholders on matters that affect the lives of Nigerians,” it read.

The Presidency also countered Governor Mohammed’s claim that Tinubu is not a “listening leader,” asserting that the president values the institutions of state and is open to engagement.

“President Tinubu is a listening leader and also a leader who firmly believes in the institutions of state,” the statement stated.

Addressing the concerns over the proposed tax reform bills, the Presidency advised those with strong objections to utilize the legislative process, urging dialogue through the National Assembly.

In a pointed critique of Governor Mohammed’s leadership in Bauchi State, the statement questioned the governor’s effectiveness in addressing the pressing issues facing his people: “How well are the people of his state, who still rank as most impoverished among Nigerians, faring under his leadership? How well has he, as Governor, used the increased resources at his disposal to improve the quality of life of his people?”

The Presidency concluded by reminding the governor of his duty to the people of Bauchi, asserting that “constant blustering and playing irresponsible politics will not relieve him of his duty to the people of Bauchi State his leadership has impoverished.”

 

 

Continue Reading

NEWS

FG Recovers $52.88m Of Diezani Alison-Madueke’s Loot From U.S

Published

on

The Federal Government of Nigeria has successfully recovered $52.88 million in assets linked to a former Minister of Petroleum, Diezani Alison-Madueke, from the United States of America.

The announcement was made by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, during a formal asset agreement signing ceremony held in Abuja on Friday.

READ MORE: Tinubu To Attend High-Profile Global Sustainability Forum In UAE

According to Fagbemi, $50 million of the recovered funds will be allocated to rural electrification projects through the World Bank, while the remaining $2 million will be used by the International Institute of Justice to strengthen the justice system and combat corruption.

“This asset return marks a significant milestone in the ongoing partnership between Nigeria and the United States to combat corruption and uphold the rule of law,” Fagbemi stated.

He also highlighted the recovery as a testament to President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to addressing corruption and promoting transparency.

Richard Mills, the United States Ambassador to Nigeria, also addressed the gathering, emphasizing the importance of proper monitoring and utilization of the recovered funds.

He urged the Ministry of Justice to ensure that the resources are effectively deployed for the benefit of the Nigerian people.

 

 

Continue Reading

Copyright © 2022. Biztellers, powered by Alphaxristi.