Tuesday, November 5, 2024 - Former Nigerian Vice President, Atiku
Abubakar has stated that Nigerians are tired of President Bola Tinubu’s
trial-and-error policies, which he said have plunged the nation into an abysmal
state.
Atiku advised the President and his team to admit their failures and be
humble enough to realize that they cannot tax Nigerians to improve the economy.
Atiku was responding to a statement credited to the Presidency claiming
that an Atiku Presidency could have plunged Nigeria into a deeper economic
crisis than currently being experienced.
Read the statement below…
“I have taken note of the initial responses highlighting the striking
disparity between President Tinubu’s faltering economic policies and the
alternatives I have proposed.
“It is exciting to witness such a vigorous debate on these critical
matters, and I sincerely hope that this discourse will ultimately benefit
Nigeria and its citizens.
“Like many fellow Nigerians, I firmly believe that we find ourselves in
this current economic turmoil due to the Tinubu administration’s hasty ascent
to power, devoid of a coherent plan.
“In stark contrast, my team not only devised a comprehensive Recovery
Plan, but also welcomed significant input from Nigerians, ensuring that our
approach was inclusive and well-considered.
“Isn’t it fascinating how the so-called “tested” Tinubu administration’s
only policy response seems to be a national prayer led by the First Lady and
the NSA? Just mere 24 hours after I proposed my alternative solutions! What a
bold strategy!
“In my humble interpretation of the scriptures, prayer indeed serves as
a noble path to follow. However, the sacred texts also counsel us to engage in
diligent labour and hard work.
“It is therefore uncharitable for Tinubu’s team to claim that my
proposals remain untested. What remains unproven is the erratic,
trial-and-error nature of the policies so far implemented by this
administration, which elucidates our present predicament.
“Let us not forget that under our economic stewardship between
1999-2003, Nigeria soared to the pinnacle of Africa’s economies, while their
administration has relegated us to a disheartening fourth position.
“The average GDP rate under the Obasanjo administration that I served in
was 6.59% and peaked at 15% in 2002; 7.98% under the late Yar’Adua
administration and 4.8% under Jonathan compared to the dismal 2.8% of the
so-called “tested” Tinubu era. Enough of the pains of the shambolic “bolekaja”
economic policy prescriptions!
“We cannot hope to tax our way out of the economic quagmire wrought by these misguided experimental policies of a novice administration. Numerous nations, such as the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Monaco (an EU territory with a zero-income tax policy), among many others, have emerged as economic powerhouses by fostering growth through lower taxation. Why then are we fixated on inflicting further hardship upon an already struggling populace?
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