Atiku fires again at Tinubu over schooling funding, remembers US forfeiture case

Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress, ADC, presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has criticized President Bola Tinubu over his remarks regarding his funding within the schooling sector, recalling a 1993 US forfeiture case involving the Nigerian chief.

Atiku, in an announcement issued by his Director of Strategic Communication, Phrank Shaibu, accused Tinubu of trying to divert public consideration from the financial challenges dealing with Nigerians underneath his administration.

The trade adopted Tinubu’s query about how Atiku was capable of set up an academic establishment whereas serving as Vice President.

Responding, Atiku stated his funding in schooling predated his entry into public workplace, noting that he started laying the muse for ABTI Academy in 1993.

He stated, “The answer is simple: my investment in education predates my time in public service. In 1993, while a U.S. court ordered the forfeiture of funds in an account in your name, describing them as proceeds of narcotics trafficking or funds involved in unlawful financial transactions, I was laying the foundation for ABTI Academy.”

The former Vice President added that the academy later developed into the American University of Nigeria, insisting that his enterprise actions and transition into public service had been properly documented.

Atiku additionally accused the Tinubu administration of worsening poverty, unemployment, insecurity and the rising value of dwelling.

He questioned the route of the nation underneath the present authorities, alleging that Nigerians had been being pushed additional into poverty, debt and financial uncertainty.

The ADC chieftain additional criticized the federal government’s response to starvation, referencing a latest comment attributed to APC marketing campaign Director-General, Abdulaziz Yari, describing hungry Nigerians as lazy.

“You created poverty, then insult the people suffering from it,” Atiku stated.

On gasoline subsidy, the previous Vice President promised to introduce a clear, production-based system linked to home refining if elected president in 2027, saying the coverage would assist scale back vitality prices.

He additionally insisted that his “Affordable Life” marketing campaign would proceed regardless of what he described as assaults from the ruling get together.

“I will be on that ballot, and I will beat you decisively,” he declared.

Atiku maintained that Nigerians had skilled Tinubu’s management and would decide his administration based mostly on its efficiency forward of the 2027 presidential election.