₦airaland Forum

In a statement he personally signed, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Candidate in the last election alleged that the President Tinubu administration is undertaking a “palliative” economy, something his administration would not have done.

Atiku, who blamed the reforms of the present administration for the present malaise, said, “Unleashing reforms to determine an appropriate exchange rate, cost-reflective electricity tariff, and PMS price at one and the same time is certainly an overkill.”


The opposition leader noted that while he had advocated for subsidy removal, his administration would have gone for a gradual removal as is being done in countries like Malaysia in 2022 and Indonesia, 2022 -2023.


He said: “I’ve been inundated with inquiries of what I would have done differently if I were at the helm of affairs of our country. I am not the president, Tinubu is. The focus should be on him and not on me or any other. I believe that such inquiries distract from the critical questions of what President Bola Tinubu needs to do to save Nigerians from the excruciating pains arising from his trial-and-error economic policies.


“We would have planned better and more robustly: My journey of reforms would have benefited from more adequate preparations; more sufficient diagnostic assessment of the country’s conditions; more consultations with key stakeholders; and better ideas for the final destination.

“We would have been guided by my robust reform agenda as encapsulated in ‘My Covenant With Nigerians’, my policy document that sought to, among others, protect our fragile economy against much deeper crisis by preventing business collapse; our document had spelt out policies that were consistent and coherent.”


Atiku further said, “Unleashing reforms to determine an appropriate exchange rate, cost-reflective electricity tariff, and PMS price at one and the same time is certainly an overkill. Add CBN’s bullish money tightening spree. As importers of PMS and other petroleum products, removing subsidy on these products without a stable exchange rate would be counterproductive.

“We would have been more strategic in our response to reform fallout. We would not over-estimate the efficacy of the reform measures or underestimate the potential costs of reforms. I would recognise that reforms could sometimes fail. I would not underestimate the numerous delivery challenges, including the weaknesses of our institutions, and would work assiduously to correct the same. I would, as a responsible leader, pause, reflect, and where necessary, review implementation.


“I would have led by example. Any fiscal reform to improve liquidity and the management of our fiscal resources must first eliminate revenue leakages arising from governance, including the cost of running the government and the government procurement process. I (and members of my team) would not have lived in luxury while the citizens wallow in misery.”

The former Vice President who said his reforms would wear a human face, added, “We would have been more strategic in the design and implementation of reform fallout mitigating measures. I would not run a ‘palliative economy’ yet, we would have robust social protection programme that will offer genuine support to the poor and vulnerable and provide immediate comfort and security to enable them to navigate the stormy seas.”


Speaking on specific measures, the PDP Chieftain said, “We would have launched an Economic Stimulus Fund (ESF), with an initial investment capacity of approximately US$10 billion to support MSMEs across all economic sectors.

“Alongside the ESF, we would have launched a uniquely designed skills-to-job programme that targets all categories of youth, including graduates, early school leavers as well as the massive numbers of uneducated youth who are currently not in education, employment, or training.


“I have always advocated for the removal of subsidy on PMS because its administration has been mildly put, opaque with so much scope for arbitrariness and corruption. Mind boggling rent profit from oil subsidy accrued to the cabals in public institutions and the private sector. I would have prioritized the following:


“First, tackling corruption. Fighting corruption should have commenced with the repositioning of the NNPCL, which is a huge beneficiary of the status quo. Its commitment to reform and capacity to implement and enforce reforms is suspect. The subsidy regime has provided an avenue for rent seeking, and the NNPCL and its guardians will be threatened by reforms.

“Second, paying particular attention to Nigeria’s poor refining infrastructure. We are by far the most inefficient OPEC member country in terms of both the percentage of installed refining capacity that works and the percentage of crude refined. We would’ve commenced the privatization of all state-owned refineries and ensure that Nigeria starts to refine at least 50% of its current crude oil output. Nigeria should aspire to export 50% of that capacity to ECOWAS member states.


“Third, adopt a gradualist approach in the implementation of the subsidy reforms. Subsidies would not have been removed suddenly and completely. It is instructive that when I was Vice President, we adopted a gradualist approach and had completed phases 1 and 2 of the reform before our tenure ended. The incoming administration in 2007 abandoned the reforms, unfortunately. The majority of the countries that review or rationalize subsidy payments adopt a gradualist approach by phasing price increases or shifting from universal to targeted approach (Malaysia, 2022 and Indonesia, 2022 -2023).

“In many EU economies, complete withdrawal often takes 5 years to effect. The gradualist approach allows for adjustments, adaptation and minimizes disruptions and vulnerability.”

emkz:
They all agreed to remove subsidy.

Subsidy was removed.

Those who lost are now turning their backs on the outcomes. This is why they never deserved to win.

Atiku had his chance as VP. There were serious issues arising from his managing sale of FG assets. There were issues arising from the power sector reforms and how that administration wasted money. They celebrate debt forgiveness. That was shameful. Has anyone bothered to ask about the cost of that debt forgiveness? If that Obasanjo/Atiku administration was not hopelessly visionless, could they not find something sensible to do with the money they threw away to buy debt forgiveness?

Was it not during Obasanjo/Atiku maladminiatration Nigeria started subsidizing dollars for the rich? Did both Obasanjo and Atiku not start their own private universities while in government exactly after winning their 2nd term?

Was it not Obasanjo/Atiku that starved Lagos State of LGA funds? Who suffered?

When Emefiele started naira repainting scheme, didn't Atiku support it, thinking it would be to his advantage? Is naira not scarce today because of Emefiele's demonic tendencies?

When Atiku saw that he was losing the court case against the person who defeated him, did he not go to the US to try to rubbish the person? Didn't Atiku support the #EndBadGovernance protests? When they became riotous and some of the children asked Atiku to be handed the seat he lost, why didn't Atiku speak up against it? Must he play politics with everything?

The north has had Almajiri problem for years, how did Atiku help to resolve the problem? It took a southern president to build schools for them which they have not attended.

Knowing how fragile our country is, was it fair that 8 years after Buhari ran the country, Atiku wanted to succeed him? Sadly, we are not there yet.

Atiku who now prides himself as a hypothetical problem solver could nit resolve the PDP crisis that eventually cost him the election. Even now, the party is in turmoil because of one person. Atiku cannot use his influence to rein in on the person, but he assumes he can solve Nigeria's problems.

Atiku, you had your chance and you did not immortalize yourself. Allow Tinubu do his four years and run against him in 2027. If Nigerians prefer you, they'd give you their votes. Your selfishness might make people wary of you if you continue in this trajectory of politicizing everything.

You are saying what you'd have done if you were president. But you are not president, which makes your fundamental premise flawed and everything that followed the flawed premise unintelligent.

emkz:
It is only in Nigeria people start having solutions to the problems after leaving power.

Losing elections is like taking premium weed: you start hallucinating.

Aside: To the dude who lost millions due to the FG ban on Binance, ntoirrrrrr!!!

LordIsaac:
Speaking English and saying nothing!

Salewa97:
Atiku should stop being petty.

The issue is not about doing things differently, the question is why didn't you do those things when you had the opportunity?

Always blaming others for his failure is what he has mastered

Judolisco:
Atiku talking about fighting corruption... Omo... I've seen and heard it all..... .
Bro ended up saying nothing.... U 2 would have removed subsidy

emkz:
It is only in Nigeria people start having solutions to the problems after leaving power.

Losing elections is like taking premium weed: you start hallucinating.

Aside: To the dude who lost millions due to the FG ban on Binance, ntoirrrrrr!!!

Salewa97:
Atiku should stop being petty.

The issue is not about doing things differently, the question is why didn't you do those things when you had the opportunity?

Always blaming others for his failure is what he has mastered

Menclothing1:
I took time to read all this your explanation is pure nothing it show you all have nothing to offer

emkz:
It is only in Nigeria people start having solutions to the problems after leaving power.

Losing elections is like taking premium weed: you start hallucinating.

Aside: To the dude who lost millions due to the FG ban on Binance, ntoirrrrrr!!!