Paul Ibe, the media aide to former PDP presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar, has criticized President Bola Tinubu’s policies, describing them as trial and error.
Ibe argued that Tinubu lacked a clear policy framework, which has led to the current hardships Nigerians are facing. He further claimed that Tinubu was unprepared for leadership, particularly when compared to Atiku, who had a well-defined economic plan called My Covenant.
In an interview with News Central, Ibe remarked: “When Tinubu took office, he inherited both assets and liabilities, so he should stop dwelling on the past like Lot’s wife, or risk turning into a pillar of salt.”
He recalled that the Obasanjo administration, where Atiku served as vice president, initiated the gradual process of subsidy removal, with the expectation that successive administrations, including Yar’Adua’s, would continue the process. Ibe emphasized that this gradual approach was seen as better than a sudden, full removal, which could have far-reaching consequences. Unfortunately, according to Ibe, that process was abandoned, and Nigeria is now facing the consequences.
Ibe also alleged that Nigerians did not reject Atiku; rather, his mandate was allegedly stolen by the APC in collusion with INEC and state institutions. He expressed disappointment that there has been no clear policy presentation from the Tinubu administration, which, according to him, has been fumbling with trial-and-error policies.
Atiku, he pointed out, had presented a detailed policy framework, My Covenant, and allowed Nigerians to contribute to it. If Tinubu had such a plan, Ibe argued, Nigeria wouldn’t be in its current predicament. He concluded by saying that Tinubu and his team were unprepared for governance and are now facing the consequences of their own mistakes.