Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has defended his investment in education, saying he laid the foundation for ABTI Academy in 1993, years before becoming vice-president.
Atiku was reacting to President Bola Tinubu’s remarks at the
APC presidential campaign rally in Port Harcourt, Rivers state, on Saturday,
where he questioned how the former vice-president funded a university while
serving in public office.
Tinubu asked how Atiku could have built a university while
serving as vice-president and overseeing the country’s economy, questioning
whether public resources were used for the project.
In a statement issued on Saturday by Phrank Shaibu, director
of strategic communication of the ADC presidential campaign council, Atiku said
his investment in education predated his time in public service.
He also accused Tinubu of attempting to distract Nigerians
from the performance of his administration by questioning his record in
education.
“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,” he said.
“That Academy has since grown into the American University
of Nigeria.”
Atiku said his business history was traceable and that
Tinubu could not undermine his record by attacking his investment in education.
He also criticised the president’s economic policies,
accusing his administration of worsening poverty, unemployment, insecurity and
the cost of living.
He claimed that more than 79 million Nigerians had been
pushed into extreme poverty under Tinubu’s administration.
“A president who has plunged the country into a crushing
cost-of-living crisis has no business asking Nigerians for another mandate. The
real conversation about the 2027 election is how to repair the damage your
government has done,” he said.
Atiku also faulted Tinubu’s position that Nigeria could not
return to subsidised petrol prices, saying his administration, if elected,
would introduce a transparent, production-based subsidy tied to local fuel
refining.
“You say Nigeria will never return to subsidised petrol
prices. You are wrong. By the grace of the Almighty and with the mandate of the
Nigerian people, I will restore a transparent, production-based subsidy tied to
the local refining of fuel,” Atiku said.
“Nigerians will benefit directly through lower energy costs,
including the prices of petrol and diesel.”
He further promised to invest in social welfare and end what
he described as an opaque system for distributing funds meant for economically
vulnerable Nigerians.
Atiku said his “Affordable Life” campaign represented an
alternative to the current administration’s policies and would not be silenced
by attacks from the president.
“You want me off the ballot at all costs, but the will of
the Nigerian people will prevail. I will be on that ballot, and I will beat you
decisively,” he said.
The ADC presidential candidate said he would lead Nigeria
towards prosperity, growth, and development if elected in 2027.
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