{
  "id": 18772583,
  "title": "I built ABTI in 1993, before becoming VP, Atiku replies Tinubu",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/07/i-built-abti-in-1993-before-becoming-vp-atiku-replies-tinubu-18772583",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-07T19:20:51.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Punch",
    "slug": "punch",
    "url": "https://punchng.com/i-built-abti-in-1993-before-becoming-vp-atiku-replies-tinubu/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has responded to President Bola Tinubu's criticism of his business record, specifically his establishment of ABTI Academy, a university, while serving as Vice-President under former President Olusegun Obasanjo between 1999 and 2007. Atiku, who is running for president as the candidate of the African Democratic Congress, stated that his investment in education began long before he entered public office, citing the founding of ABTI Academy in 1993. He defended his actions, claiming that the timeline of his investment contrasted with Tinubu's own history and that his business activities were verifiable.\n\nAtiku accused Tinubu of using the issue to divert attention from the economic hardships facing Nigerians, questioning whether the current administration's policies were leading the country to deeper poverty, debt, insecurity, and unemployment. He also criticized the administration's handling of the economic crisis, alleging that more than 79 million Nigerians had fallen into extreme poverty under the current government. Atiku proposed an alternative economic plan under his Affordable Life campaign, promising to restore a transparent, production-based petrol subsidy tied to local refining, which he claimed would benefit Nigerians through lower energy costs.\n\nFurthermore, Atiku addressed Tinubu's remark questioning how a man without moral integrity and ethics could build a university while in office. He characterized Tinubu's position as clumsy and foggy, emphasizing that his own history of success in business could be traced and documented. Atiku remains a presidential candidate under the African Democratic Congress for the 2027 general election.",
  "summary": "Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has defended his investment in education after President Bola Tinubu questioned how he established a university while serving in government, saying he laid the… Read More: https://punchng.com/i-built-abti-in-1993-before-becoming-vp-atiku-replies-tinubu/",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Daily Post Nigeria",
        "title": "2027: I have seen the light - Okowa dumps Atiku for Tinubu",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/07/2027-i-have-seen-the-light-okowa-dumps-atiku-for-tinubu",
        "published": "2026-11-07T13:49:21.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Daily Trust",
        "title": "Hunger: I’m clearing the mess created by Atiku and others, says Tinubu",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/07/hunger-im-clearing-the-mess-created-by-atiku-and-others-says-tinubu",
        "published": "2026-11-07T14:55:48.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}