The All Progressives Congress (APC) launched a scathing attack on former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, and former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, branding them as self-serving politicians desperately clinging to power. The APC dismissed their criticisms of President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms as hollow rhetoric stemming from their own thwarted ambitions and lost access to a system they exploited for personal gain. The party defended Tinubu’s policies, particularly the removal of fuel subsidies and the unification of exchange rates, as bold and necessary steps to transform Nigeria from a consumption-driven economy to a production-based one. The APC highlighted the positive impacts of these reforms, including increased investment, improved competitiveness, and enhanced government revenue for social welfare programs.
The crux of the APC’s argument rests on the premise that Atiku, Amaechi, and El-Rufai, despite holding significant political positions for decades, failed to address the very economic challenges they now accuse Tinubu of neglecting. The party contends that these individuals benefited immensely from the “old system”—a system characterized by an artificially inflated naira, import dependency, and rampant corruption. Their criticism of Tinubu’s reforms, the APC argues, is not borne out of genuine concern for the Nigerian people but rather a selfish desire to preserve the status quo that allowed them to amass wealth at the expense of the nation’s economic progress. The APC paints them as relics of a bygone era, struggling to adapt to a new economic landscape that prioritizes hard work and productivity over rent-seeking behavior.
The APC underscored what it considers Tinubu’s unprecedented commitment to tackling structural economic barriers. It characterized him as a leader willing to make difficult decisions for the long-term benefit of the country. The party contrasted this with the alleged inaction and self-enrichment of his critics during their time in office. The statement emphasizes the tangible benefits of Tinubu’s reforms, citing increased investments in various sectors, a surge in entrepreneurial activity, and the ability of states to pay significantly higher minimum wages. These achievements, the APC claims, are a direct result of the president’s policies and a testament to his commitment to improving the welfare of Nigerians.
The APC further ridiculed Amaechi’s claim of being “hungry,” interpreting it as a veiled admission of his longing to return to the public coffers for personal enrichment. The party portrayed his sentiment as emblematic of the motivations driving him and his allies – a desperate quest for power not for public service but for self-aggrandizement. The APC characterized them as individuals accustomed to exploiting the system, now frustrated by Tinubu’s reforms which have disrupted their access to easy wealth. The party insists that Nigerians recognize this political posturing and are not fooled by their attempts to discredit the president’s efforts.
The APC also directly addressed the criticisms levelled by Atiku and Peter Obi, specifically regarding the floating of the naira. The party argued that the previous artificially high value of the naira was detrimental to local production and fostered an unhealthy reliance on imports. Ironically, the APC pointed out, both Atiku, a former customs officer, and Obi, a successful importer, profited significantly from this import-dependent system. Their current objections to the floating naira, the APC suggested, are thinly veiled attempts to protect their own vested interests, masquerading as concern for the plight of the ordinary Nigerian.
In conclusion, the APC’s statement serves as a robust defense of President Tinubu’s economic policies and a sharp rebuke of his critics. The party portrays Tinubu as a transformative leader willing to dismantle entrenched systems of corruption and inefficiency for the benefit of all Nigerians. Conversely, it casts Atiku, Amaechi, and El-Rufai as self-serving politicians whose criticisms are motivated by a loss of privilege and access to a system they exploited for personal gain. The APC emphasizes the positive impacts of Tinubu’s reforms, highlighting increased investment, economic growth, and improved social welfare programs as evidence of his commitment to building a more prosperous Nigeria. The party’s message is clear: Tinubu’s reforms are working, and his critics are simply disgruntled beneficiaries of the old, corrupt system.
