The All Progressives Congress (APC) has lambasted Atiku Abubakar, former Vice President and 2023 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, describing his recent comments on hunger and insecurity in Nigeria as “reckless, irresponsible and degrading” to his status.
Atiku, in a statement on Monday, September 15, had likened Nigeria’s current economic situation under President Bola Tinubu to conditions that triggered historic violent uprisings, including the French and Russian revolutions as well as the Arab Spring.
But in a strongly worded response issued on Tuesday and signed by Felix Morka, its National Publicity Secretary, the APC accused the PDP chieftain of “tacitly instigating a revolution in Nigeria” rather than engaging in constructive opposition.
Morka said,”While garbed as a critique of the economic policies of President Tinubu’s administration, Atiku’s statement is nothing short of a tacit instigation of a revolution in Nigeria.
“His statement is reckless, irresponsible, unbefitting and degrading to his status as former Vice President.”
The ruling party argued that Atiku, who served two terms as Vice President under former President Olusegun Obasanjo, had little record to show for the massive oil revenues earned during the PDP’s 16-year rule.
“As a two-term Vice President, Atiku and his PDP had the opportunity, backed by humongous oil revenues, to eradicate hunger, poverty and insecurity. They failed to do so. Instead, Atiku and his PDP democratized hunger and poverty in our country. They plundered and looted our treasury, and enthroned corruption and profligacy as state policy,” the statement read.
The APC further accused Atiku of lacking ideas both in office and out of power, noting that his repeated presidential bids had been consistently rejected by Nigerians.
“As Vice President, Atiku was clueless about solving Nigeria’s economic challenges. As a forever-presidential aspirant, he remains eminently clueless. Nigerians know this and it is the reason they have serially rebuffed his attempts to be president. Nigerians are on standby to deal Atiku, hopefully, a full and final rejection in 2027,” Morka declared.
Read also: Pervasive hunger, poverty in Nigeria unacceptable – Atiku
Citing recent data, the APC insisted that the Tinubu administration’s economic reforms were already yielding results, contrary to Atiku’s claims.
“That Atiku’s disturbing statement was made on a day when all news platforms had headline reports of consistent lowering of inflation numbers, at a period when all vital economic indicators are looking up and pointing in a positive direction, shows clearly that he is out of touch with reality,” the ruling party said.
While acknowledging the opposition’s right to criticize government policies, the APC warned that calls for violent resistance were unacceptable.
“Atiku must know that instigating anarchy is not legitimate or justifiable opposition politics. It is wrong, irresponsible, unpatriotic and unacceptable. While critique of the administration’s economic policies is within the opposition’s democratic freedom, instigating violent uprising is not a protected freedom,” Morka said.
The statement also dismissed Atiku’s relevance in Nigeria’s political discourse, accusing him of making inflammatory comments while spending most of his time abroad.
“Atiku hardly resides in Nigeria and will not be available to partake in the attendant pain, destruction, mayhem and desolation that the revolution he is instigating will bring. We must guard our God-given liberties and not lend them to be sacrificed at the pleasure of Atiku’s political ambition,” the APC said.
The party further urged Nigerians to remain steadfast in their support for President Tinubu.
“We trust Nigerians to ignore Atiku’s inciting statement as self-serving, anti-democratic and a threat to the peace, unity, interest and progress of our dear country.
“We urge Nigerians to remain steadfast in support of President Tinubu’s administration as it continues in its unyielding efforts to build a nation of our collective dream,” the statement read.
