By Milcah Tanimu
Dr. Josef Onoh, a former South East spokesperson for President Bola Tinubu, has issued a strong rebuke to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar over his recent comments aimed at the President. Atiku, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate in the 2023 election, accused Tinubu of mortgaging Nigeria’s future to benefit himself, his family, and close associates.
Atiku alleged that Tinubu was replicating the control he purportedly exerted over Lagos State at the federal level, citing entities like Alpha Beta and Primero as proxies for Tinubu’s interests. He warned that such governance could extend Tinubu’s influence beyond his presidency.
In a swift rebuttal, Dr. Onoh dismissed Atiku’s remarks as baseless and misleading, accusing him of trying to stir public resentment against Tinubu and his family. Onoh criticized Atiku’s record in government, particularly his role in Nigeria’s privatization program, which Onoh claimed plunged millions into poverty and unemployment.
Onoh contended that Atiku was the precursor to the current economic hardship in Nigeria, accusing him of selling off national assets to cronies, thereby robbing the country of valuable resources. He highlighted the sale of the Federal Secretariat in Ikoyi as an example of Atiku’s alleged mismanagement.
Onoh further claimed that under Atiku’s watch, Nigeria’s economy suffered, leading to the closure of textile factories and a surge in unemployment. He criticized the privatization of key national assets like the Nigeria Ports Authority, the Nigeria Railway Corporation, and Nigeria Airways, arguing that these sales primarily benefited Atiku’s associates.
Concluding his remarks, Onoh challenged Atiku to account for the federal assets privatized during his tenure, accusing him of enriching himself and his allies at Nigeria’s expense. He urged Atiku to act as a statesman rather than a salesman, reflecting on the lasting impact of his actions on the nation.
