Former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, has called on the national leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, to adopt his economic plans to stabilize the country’s economy.
Atiku, who was the presidential candidate of the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2019 election, said he had developed a comprehensive and workable blueprint to revive the economy, create jobs, and reduce poverty.
He made this appeal in a statement issued on Sunday, February 25, 2024, in response to Tinubu’s recent comments on the state of the nation.
Tinubu, who is widely speculated to be eyeing the presidency in 2027, had blamed the economic woes of Nigeria on the previous administrations of the PDP, which he accused of mismanaging the country’s resources and leaving behind a legacy of debt, corruption, and insecurity.
He also criticized the current administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, who is also a member of the APC, for failing to implement the necessary reforms and policies to address the challenges facing the nation.
Tinubu said the APC government had inherited a “sick economy” that required a “surgical operation” to restore its health and vitality.
He said the government had tried to implement some measures, such as the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP), the Finance Act, and the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), but they were not enough to solve the problems.
He said the government needed to adopt a more “radical and innovative” approach to stimulate the economy, diversify the revenue base, and create more opportunities for the people.
He said he had some ideas and proposals that he would share with the public soon, and he urged Nigerians to support him in his quest to lead the country to a better future.
Atiku, however, dismissed Tinubu’s claims and suggestions as “baseless and unrealistic”.
He said Tinubu was trying to rewrite history and deceive Nigerians with his “false and misleading” statements.
He said Tinubu was part of the problem, not the solution, as he had been a key ally and supporter of the APC government that had plunged the country into a deeper crisis.
He said Tinubu had no moral authority or credibility to criticize the PDP or offer any alternative vision for the country, as he had failed to deliver good governance and development in his own state of Lagos, where he had been the de facto leader for over two decades.
He said Tinubu had also failed to address the issues of insecurity, unemployment, inflation, poverty, and inequality that had worsened under the APC regime.
He said Tinubu should stop playing politics with the lives and livelihoods of Nigerians, and instead focus on learning from his economic blueprint, which he had published and presented to the public before the 2019 election.
He said his blueprint had been endorsed and praised by various experts and stakeholders, both locally and internationally, as a viable and realistic roadmap to transform the economy and improve the welfare of the people.
He said his blueprint had outlined the strategies and policies to achieve the following objectives:
– To grow the economy by an average of 10% annually
– To create at least three million jobs every year
– To reduce poverty by 50% by 2027
– To increase the tax-to-GDP ratio from 6% to 15% by 2027
– To increase the power generation capacity from 5,000 MW to 20,000 MW by 2027
– To diversify the economy from oil dependence to non-oil sectors, such as agriculture, manufacturing, services, and technology
– To improve the quality and access to education, health, and infrastructure
– To strengthen the institutions and systems of governance, accountability, and transparency
– To enhance the security and unity of the nation
He said his blueprint was based on sound economic principles and best practices, and it was informed by his extensive experience and expertise in the private and public sectors.
He said he was ready and willing to share his blueprint with Tinubu and any other interested party, and he challenged Tinubu to come up with his own blueprint and subject it to public scrutiny and debate.
He said he was confident that his blueprint would prevail over any other proposal, as it was the only one that could address the root causes and consequences of the economic crisis and deliver the desired results and benefits for the people.
He said he hoped that Tinubu would heed his advice and embrace his blueprint, as it was the only way to save the country from further decline and disaster.
He said he was also open to dialogue and collaboration with Tinubu and any other patriotic and progressive Nigerian, who shared his vision and passion for the economic transformation and development of the country.
He said he believed that Nigeria had the potential and the resources to become one of the leading economies and nations in the world, if only the right policies and leaders were in place.
He said he remained committed and dedicated to the cause of Nigeria, and he would continue to offer his ideas and solutions to the nation, regardless of his political affiliation or aspiration.
He said he was optimistic that Nigeria would overcome its current challenges and emerge stronger and better, if the people worked together and supported each other in the spirit of unity and democracy.
He said he prayed for God’s guidance and blessing for Nigeria and its people.
Source: Tribune Online
