The All Progressives Congress (APC) has said that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar democratised hunger and poverty in the country.
He said both Atiku and PDP plundered and looted the country’s treasury, and enthroned corruption and profligacy as state policy.
Its National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka in a statement issued Tuesday described the statement credited to Atiku here he was allegedly instigating anarchy as degrading to his status of former Vice President.
He added that Atiku and his PDP cemented the sordid foundations of hunger, poverty and insecurity that Tinubu is battling courageously and relentlessly to defeat, with growing success.
Morka noted noted: “As a two-term Vice President, Atiku and his PDP, at the time, had the opportunity, backed by humongous oil revenues, to eradicate hunger, poverty and insecurity. Atiku and his PDP failed to do so.
“In fact, they made absolutely no impression against hunger, poverty and insecurity in Nigeria. They governed for 16 years, did not and could not eradicate hunger, poverty and insecurity in Nigeria.
“Instead, Atiku and his PDP democratised hunger and poverty in our country. They plundered and looted our treasury, and enthroned corruption and profligacy as state policy.
“Atiku and his PDP cemented the sordid foundations of hunger, poverty and insecurity that President Tinubu is battling courageously and relentlessly to defeat, with growing success.
“As Vice President, Atiku was clueless about solving Nigeria’s economic challenges. As a forever-presidential aspirant, he remains eminently clueless about what it takes to tackle our country’s economic challenges.’
Morka said now out of power, Atiku thinks himself as possessing knowledge and capacity he so miserably lacked when he had the opportunity to govern as Vice President, saying that is utterly delusional.
Morka added: “Nigerians know this and it is the reason they have serially rebuffed his attempts to be president. Nigerians are on standby to deal Atiku, hopefully, a full and final rejection in 2027.
“Blinded by desperation, tormented by President Tinubu’s impressive and inimitable strides, distraught by an unrealised presidential ambition, disoriented by anxieties of a far faded political future, Atiku has become incapable of objective, reasoned and rational assessment of the state of our rebounded and stable economy, now set to secure growth and deliver prosperity for our nation.
“That Atiku’s disturbing statement was made on a day when all news platforms had headline reports of consistent lowering of inflation numbers, at a period when all vital economic indicators are looking up and pointing in a positive direction, shows clearly that he is out of touch with the reality of the benefits now flowing from the administration’s transformative Renewed Hope economic reforms.
“Atiku must know that instigating anarchy is not legitimate or justifiable opposition politics. It is wrong, irresponsible, unpatriotic and unacceptable.
“While critique of the administration’s economic policies is within the opposition’s democratic freedom, instigating violent uprising is not a protected freedom.
“Violence is never a desirable or acceptable mode of democratic engagement. Atiku should know better and refrain from the use of inflammatory language capable of stoking violence and undermining the peace and safety of Nigerians. His duty to the country must trump his desperate and inordinate presidential ambition.”