The Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication to the African Democratic Congress, ADC, presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, Phrank Shaibu, on Tuesday said the former vice president is not President Bola Tinubu’s problem ahead of the 2027 elections.
Shaibu said Tinubu’s problem is Nigerians who can no longer afford to live under the prevailing economic hardship.
He was reacting to Tinubu’s comments in which he faulted some of Atiku’s proposed policies.
In a statement he signed, Shaibu said Tinubu was attacking Atiku’s proposed policies because the former vice president chose to stand with Nigerians.
He said: “Only last night, President Bola Tinubu devoted a substantial part of his latest statement, released on X, attacking the economic position of His Excellency Atiku Abubakar, yet declined, rather theatrically, to mention him by name, claiming that he would not ‘dignify’ opposition leaders.
“Bola, Nigerians know exactly whose policy you were attacking. You were responding to Atiku Abubakar because he has chosen to stand with millions of Nigerians being crushed by the cost-of-living crisis.
“He has insisted that in an oil-producing country, petrol should not become a luxury product and that the ultimate test of economic policy is whether ordinary Nigerians can afford transportation, food, education, healthcare and a decent life.
“Since you would rather attack his ideas without mentioning his name, His Excellency sees no reason to be dragged into a personal exchange with you. I will answer you.”