Presidency to Atiku: Take Your Economic Blueprint to Campaign Trail, Tinubu Will Remain Focused on Reforms

The Presidency has advised former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), to focus on presenting his economic proposals to voters during the campaign trail, rather than instructing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on governance matters. Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, Dr. Sunday Dare, criticized Atiku for repeatedly addressing the President as "Bola," asserting that such behavior is disrespectful and unwarranted given his role as a defeated candidate.

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, also rebuked Atiku for his disrespectful treatment of the President and highlighted the need for respect in political discourse. Atiku had urged President Tinubu to take immediate measures to reduce petrol prices, cautioning against repeating the mistakes of removing petrol subsidies in the power sector.

However, Dr. Dare rejected Atiku's approach, arguing that opposition politics does not give a presidential candidate the authority to dictate to an incumbent President how to govern during the remaining months of their term. Dare defended the administration's economic reforms, emphasizing the necessary and difficult structural changes required to address decades of economic stagnation and subsidy dependency.

He questioned Atiku's proposal for a "transparent 'production subsidy' for locally refined petroleum products," suggesting that his position is politically motivated and lacking in substance. Keyamo, echoing Dare's sentiments, condemned Atiku's use of the President's first name and criticized his lack of respect for the presidency, even amid political disagreement.