APC slams Atiku, Amaechi, El-Rufai over attacks on Tinubu

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has issued a scathing response to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, ex-Governor Rotimi Amaechi, and former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, accusing them of political desperation and self-interest in their criticisms of President Bola Tinubu.

In a statement on Monday, APC’s National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, praised Tinubu’s administration for introducing structural reforms that have begun to reshape Nigeria’s economy.

Morka argued that the shift toward a production-based economy and away from consumption is being driven by measures such as the adjustment of the naira’s value and fuel subsidy removal.

READ ALSO: Kenneth Okonkwo: How APC can be defeated in 2027

Over the weekend, Atiku, Amaechi, and El-Rufai had taken aim at Tinubu, blaming him for worsening economic hardship and accusing him of manipulating poverty for political gain.

The APC hit back, pointing out that the three critics were all in powerful positions between 1999 and 2023 and failed to address the same economic problems they now highlight.

“In all 24 years, the trio, individually or collectively, could not and did not eradicate poverty in their states or the country. 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.”

“Rather, they revelled in mindless rent-seeking behaviour, sold national assets to their cronies for mere pittance, engaged in corrupt and wasteful expenditures in their states, and relentlessly sponsored state violence against their own people.”

The party also pointed to Amaechi’s long tenure in public service: “Take the case of Amaechi, the celebrant, who served for an unbroken total of 24 years – eight years as Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, eight years as Governor of Rivers State, and eight years as Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria… That he is hungry barely two years out of office simply underscores the depth of the self-serving motivations of Amaechi and his coalition partners in their quest for power for selfish exploitation, and not for the interest of the people.”

The APC claimed that the former officials, who thrived under an inefficient and corruption-prone system, are now being sidelined by reforms that prioritize productivity and merit.

“On the contrary, it was the failure of previous administrations, particularly 16 years of PDP administrations, to allow the Naira to find its real value that created the economic conditions of poverty that the present administration is now addressing.”

“Atiku, a former Customs Officer, and Obi, a successful importer, reaped enormous benefits from the old system. Their criticisms reek of special interest masqueraded as concern for the people.”

The party maintained that Tinubu’s economic measures, while difficult, are necessary to steer the country toward sustainable development.

“Indubitably, in two years, President Tinubu has demonstrated political will to tackle structural barriers to the country’s economic growth and development far more than any other President in Nigeria’s modern history.”

The APC also stated that increased revenue from reforms is now enabling better investments in infrastructure, education, and welfare.

“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.”

The party insisted that recent policies, including fuel subsidy removal and exchange rate unification, are boosting economic opportunities for productive Nigerians and curtailing corruption.

“The President’s reforms are dawning a new day for Nigeria, now witnessing economic transformation never before seen in our country’s history, driven by proper pricing of the Naira and fuel, and steadily transitioning the country from a consumption-laden to a production-oriented economic powerhouse.”