The Arewa Professionals for Democracy and Development (APDD) has condemned former Vice President Atiku Abubakar for his recent criticism of President Bola Tinubu’s $2.2 billion foreign loan request.
POLITICS NIGERIA reports that the National Assembly had earlier in the week approved the loan, leading to conflicting reactions across the country.
One of the reactions came from Atiku, the 2023 People’s Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate. The former vice president expressed concerns about the potential for government mismanagement and embezzlement of the funds. However, the APDD accused Atiku of projecting his values onto the current government and dismissing the strategic intent behind the loan.
Engr. Moses Odaudu, President of the APDD, described Atiku’s criticism as “the final twitching of an expired creature.” Odaudu emphasized that loans, when properly invested in infrastructure, could serve as vital economic tools. He also pointed out that Atiku’s comparisons of exchange rates and claims that the loans were poorly negotiated were misleading.
The APDD expressed disappointment over Atiku’s focus on the potential negative impact of the loan, calling his comments “infantile tantrums.” The group argued that while it is crucial to scrutinize government actions, Atiku’s approach lacked a broader understanding of international finance and the strategic decisions involved in borrowing.
Odaudu also noted that Atiku failed to acknowledge the ongoing reforms in revenue collection by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and Customs. The APDD emphasized that instead of focusing on baseless accusations, Atiku should be concerned with the government’s commitment to transparency and accountability.