By George OPARA
Atiku Abubakar, former vice president has accused the federal government of Nigeria of ostensibly moving to reform and privatize the
Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) without transparency and accountability.
This development followed Tinubu’s knock on Atiku Thursday, alleging that he wanted to privatise the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and, that his past role in Nigeria’s privatisation programme was futile.
But in Atiku’s riposte contained in a statement issued by Phrank Shaibu, his senior special assistant on public communication dismissed Tinubu’s comments as a “reckless tirade” reflecting “a troubling pattern of hypocrisy and historical amnesia”.
Shaibu said Tinubu’s privatisation criticism is at variance with his current policies
He said Abubakar had long advocated for the privatisation of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the sale of refineries to private investors
Shaibu said the current administration is implementing similar policies without transparency.
He explained, “This is not reform; it is privatisation without accountability”.
The statement added that Tinubu”s remarks reflect a failure to engage with documented history.
“You cannot oppose reform when it demands courage and then execute a shadow version of it in power,” he said.
“The President’s attempt to reduce a serious economic legacy to playground ridicule only underscores a deeper problem: a leadership more comfortable with insults than with facts.”
Shaibu said current economic conditions contradict the administration’s claims.
Across the country, families are skipping meals, businesses are shutting their doors, and hardworking citizens are watching their incomes evaporate under the weight of relentless inflation and a collapsing purchasing power,” he added.
What has been marketed as reform has translated into hardship without relief.”
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