The Tinubu Stakeholders Forum, TSF has challenged former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar to answer questions surrounding his record in government before describing those currently managing the country as “thieves.”
Atiku, a presidential hopeful on the platform of the African Democratic Congress, had recently declared that the 2027 election was a contest against “thieves,” accusing the present administration of stealing the 2023 election and the Nigerian economy.
But the TSF, in a statement signed by its Chairman, Ahmad Sajoh, and Secretary, Danjuma Sada, said the former Vice-President could not demand accountability from the current administration while expecting his own record to remain beyond scrutiny.
The forum said Atiku’s use of the word “thieves” had made it necessary for Nigerians to examine the records of all presidential contenders ahead of the 2027 election.
“Since Atiku has chosen to make the word ‘thieves’ central to his political argument, Nigerians are entitled to examine the records of everyone seeking their votes in 2027, including those who have previously held positions of responsibility,” the group stated.
The TSF particularly raised questions about the privatisation programme undertaken during the administration in which Atiku served as Vice-President and Chairman of the National Council on Privatisation.
The group said Nigerians had the right to know how public enterprises were valued, how the transactions were conducted and whether the country received fair value for assets transferred to private interests.
“How were public enterprises valued? How were the transactions conducted? Did Nigerians receive fair value for the assets transferred to private interests? And what safeguards existed against political influence in the process?” the forum asked.
The TSF also referred to allegations made by former Director-General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises, Nasir El-Rufai, while appearing before a Senate committee investigating the privatisation programme in 2011.
According to the group, El-Rufai had alleged that Atiku and former President Olusegun Obasanjo had at different times sought to influence the disposal of government enterprises to their associates.
“The allegation was contested and should not be presented as a judicial finding. But it was made before a Senate investigative committee and became part of the public record,” it said.
The TSF also raised the controversy surrounding the Petroleum Technology Development Fund during the Obasanjo administration, saying the issue should be viewed from the perspective of accountability rather than as a declaration of guilt.
It said Atiku could not demand that Nigerians scrutinise the economic record of the Tinubu administration without allowing Nigerians to examine the record of the government in which he served as Vice-President.
The forum challenged Atiku to explain what he would do differently if elected president, particularly on foreign exchange reform, fuel subsidy, revenue mobilisation, taxation, investment, infrastructure and private-sector participation.
“If Atiku believes the Nigerian economy has been ‘stolen’, he should tell Nigerians precisely what he means, provide evidence and explain what he would do differently,” the group said.
It also asked the former Vice-President to state which policies of the Tinubu administration he would retain, which he would reverse and what alternatives he would introduce.
The TSF, however, said the Tinubu administration must also be prepared to defend its record before Nigerians.
“Let the Tinubu administration defend its record. Let Atiku defend his record. Let every presidential contender put his policies, achievements and past decisions before Nigerians.
“Then Nigerians can decide who has served the country better,” the forum said.
It added that Nigerians were capable of determining who was telling the truth if all the presidential contenders placed their records and policies before the electorate.
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