The All Progressives Congress (APC) has rebuked former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Transportation Minister Rotimi Amaechi, and former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, describing their recent criticisms of President Bola Tinubu’s economic policies as politically motivated and self-serving.
The three opposition figures had accused President Tinubu of “weaponising poverty” during a public lecture held in Abuja over the weekend to commemorate Amaechi’s 60th birthday.
In a statement issued on Monday, APC National Publicity Secretary Felix Morka said the trio failed to address poverty or restructure the economy during their time in various leadership positions.
“They did not even attempt to address, let alone tackle, the structural challenges and distortions that stifled the economy and worsened poverty over the years,” the statement read.
Morka accused the former officials of resisting reforms that demand transparency, accountability, and merit, arguing that they had grown accustomed to benefiting from an economy driven by rent-seeking.
“Amaechi and his cohorts are losing their grip on the economy. Accustomed to fleecing the system, they are now compelled by Tinubu’s unprecedented reforms to adapt to a new reality where hard work, productivity, and innovation are rewarded,” he said.
He further stated that President Tinubu has shown stronger political will than any modern Nigerian leader in addressing the structural impediments to growth.
“The criticisms variously levelled by Amaechi, Atiku, El-Rufai, and Peter Obi mask a shameless attempt to perpetuate and cling to the old rent-seeking economy that enriched them at the expense of the Nigerian people.”
Highlighting Tinubu’s key economic initiatives, the APC noted that the removal of the fuel subsidy had eliminated long-standing corruption in the downstream petroleum sector, while the unification of exchange rates had improved Nigeria’s global competitiveness.
“With increased revenue, the federal, state, and local governments are now investing more in critical infrastructure, education, health, security, and social welfare,” the party added.
