Atiku to FG: Show Nigerians how subsidy savings were spent

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has challenged the
federal government to account for the savings from the removal of the petrol
subsidy, asking it to show Nigerians how the funds have been spent.

 

In a statement issued on Wednesday by Phrank Shaibu, his
senior special assistant on public communication, Atiku, presidential candidate
of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), said the administration of President
Bola Tinubu and its supporters were attempting to divert attention from
questions over the management of public resources by reviving old allegations
against him.

Atiku said the government had removed the subsidy and asked
Nigerians to endure the resulting hardship on the promise that the savings
would be channelled into development.

“They removed the subsidy from the poor and promised that
the sacrifice would free resources for development. Nigerians accepted
extraordinary pain on that promise,” he said.

He said petrol, transportation and food costs had increased
while the purchasing power of Nigerian workers had been severely weakened.

“Today, petrol is more expensive, transportation is more
expensive, food is more expensive and the purchasing power of the Nigerian
worker has been devastated,” Atiku said.

The former vice-president also questioned the continued
provision of fiscal incentives, waivers, tax credits and concessions to what he
described as powerful economic interests.

He said the government could not remove relief from poor
Nigerians, benefit from increased revenues and at the same time portray
interventions aimed at easing hardship as economically irresponsible.

“So, our question remains brutally simple: WHERE IS THE
PEOPLE’S MONEY?” Atiku asked.

‘INVESTIGATE ME IF YOU HAVE EVIDENCE’

Atiku also challenged the Tinubu administration and its
supporters to investigate him if they had evidence of wrongdoing instead of
recycling allegations concerning his time in government.

The ADC presidential candidate said the national assembly
had investigated the power projects during his tenure as vice-president, but he
was never invited to answer allegations of wrongdoing.

“The National Assembly investigated the power projects. I
was never invited to answer any allegation of wrongdoing,” he said.

Atiku acknowledged that he chaired the national council on
privatisation as vice-president but said he disagreed with the concept of the
power project and did not oversee its implementation.

“I have repeatedly asked to be investigated. I left office
in 2007 and have spent much of the period since then opposing governments in
power,” he said.

“If there is evidence that I stole public money, why has no
government produced it before a court?”

“It is still not too late. Investigate me. Invite me.
Produce the evidence. Prosecute me if you have a case. But propaganda cannot
substitute for evidence.”

Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday

Advertise on NOP NIGERIA to reach thousands of our daily users