Atiku Not Qualified to Judge Tinubu’s Reforms — TMSG
By Alabidun Shuaib AbdulRahman
The Tinubu Media Support Group (TMSG) has said former Vice President Atiku Abubakar is not in a position to criticise the ongoing economic reforms of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which it described as globally acclaimed and widely endorsed by international financial institutions.
In a statement issued by its Chairman, Emeka Nwankpa, and Secretary, Dapo Okubanjo, the group said Atiku’s criticisms of the reforms were inconsistent with global economic assessments and amounted to political posturing.
TMSG argued that the former vice president and his media aides were “not better informed” than global institutions that had repeatedly praised Nigeria’s reform trajectory under the Tinubu administration.
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The group recalled that Atiku had, during the 2023 election period, referenced the Argentine economic model as a template for Nigeria’s economic revival, a position it now described as misguided.
According to the statement, Argentina currently faces significant economic challenges, including heavy reliance on International Monetary Fund (IMF) support, which TMSG contrasted with Nigeria’s fiscal position.
The group further stated that Nigeria does not currently have outstanding debt obligations to the IMF, describing this as evidence of improved macroeconomic management.
It also cited remarks attributed to the World Bank, particularly comments credited to its Managing Director of Operations, Anna Bjerde, which reportedly described Nigeria as a reference point for reform implementation and economic restructuring.
TMSG said such endorsements demonstrated that the reforms were yielding positive outcomes in terms of investor confidence, macroeconomic stability, and structural adjustments.
The group also referenced recent warnings by the IMF on global economic headwinds, noting that such challenges were not unique to Nigeria but part of broader international pressures affecting household incomes worldwide.
It criticised Atiku for allegedly shifting position on policies such as fuel subsidy removal and exchange rate unification, which it said he had previously supported during the 2023 campaign.
The statement further accused the former vice president of politicising economic hardship narratives for political gain ahead of future elections.
TMSG maintained that the federal government’s economic direction remained focused on long-term stability, adding that short-term difficulties were an unavoidable consequence of necessary reforms.
It also highlighted ongoing social intervention programmes, including the proposed “Grant for Vulnerable Groups (GVG)” under the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA), aimed at supporting low-income households across the country’s 774 local government areas.
According to the group, the initiative is designed to provide financial support and livelihood assistance to vulnerable Nigerians to cushion the effects of economic reforms.
TMSG insisted that the Nigerian economy had begun to show signs of recovery, adding that “the worst days are over” and urging citizens to remain patient with the administration’s reform agenda.
It called on Nigerians to ignore what it described as “politically motivated criticisms,” expressing confidence that the Tinubu administration’s policies would deliver long-term economic benefits.
