APC Scribe Questions Atiku's Economic Credentials, Says Tinubu Is Fixing Nigeria

* Bashiru accuses former vice-president of contributing to economic challenges, dismisses his presidential ambition

By Inegbagha Majesty 

The National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ajibola Bashiru, has questioned former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar’s economic expertise, arguing that he lacks the professional credentials to address Nigeria’s economic challenges.

Sen. Ajibola Bashiru, Atiku Abubakar 

Bashiru also defended President Bola Tinubu’s economic policies, insisting that the administration is tackling the country’s economic difficulties, while predicting that Nigerians would reject Atiku in the 2027 presidential election.

The APC national secretary spoke on Wednesday during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, where he responded to questions about Atiku’s presidential ambition and whether the former vice-president posed a threat to the ruling party ahead of the 2027 general election.

Questioning Atiku’s professional background, Bashiru said the former vice-president’s experience in public office did not automatically qualify him as an economic expert.

“Atiku is not a professional, please, with respect to him. Atiku trained as a hygiene expert at the School of Hygiene in Kano. He is a ‘wole wole’ man and went on to become a tax collector in Customs. Where is the expertise? What has he done? Check his profile?” Bashiru said.

He further argued that serving as vice-president was not, in itself, evidence of expertise in economic management.

“So, the fact that you became a vice-president doesn’t make you an expert. What is his expertise?” he asked.

Bashiru also accused Atiku of bearing responsibility for some of the economic challenges the Tinubu administration is currently addressing, although he did not provide specific evidence to substantiate the allegation during the interview.

“If there are challenges that are being addressed by President Tinubu, one of the main people that caused them is Atiku Abubakar,” he said.

On whether Atiku’s presidential ambition posed a threat to the APC, Bashiru described the former vice-president’s latest bid as his final attempt and predicted that Nigerians would reject him at the polls.

Drawing a comparison between Atiku and the late Kenyan opposition politician Oginga Odinga, Bashiru said the former vice-president was pursuing another presidential contest despite what he described as limited prospects of success.

He also questioned Atiku’s capacity to offer credible solutions to Nigeria’s economic problems.

The APC national secretary subsequently criticised opposition politicians who have promised to reduce petrol prices, describing such pledges as unrealistic and politically motivated.

According to him, politicians should avoid making promises they cannot fulfil merely to secure votes, insisting that campaign commitments must reflect prevailing economic realities.

“You see, some of these people can just come to make statements. I learnt one of them said, ‘I’m going to make petrol N200, N300.’ It is not possible; he is just lying. You must not lie to people because you want to get their votes. You must even say something that is realistic,” Bashiru added.