Atiku obsessed with Tinubu, has no mandate to speak for Nigerians — TMSG
0
0
Atiku obsessed with Tinubu, has no mandate to speak for Nigerians — TMSG
By Alabidun Shuaib AbdulRahman
The Tinubu Media Support Group, TMSG has accused former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of being obsessed with President Bola Tinubu, saying he lacks the mandate to speak authoritatively for Nigerians on the administration’s policies and campaign strategy ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
The group was reacting to comments by Atiku, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, questioning Tinubu’s decision to limit his participation in campaign rallies to allow him more time for governance.
In a statement jointly signed by its Chairman, Emeka Nwankpa, and Secretary, Dapo Okubanjo, TMSG described Atiku’s criticism as an unnecessary obsession that would not improve the electoral fortunes of the ADC.
READ ALSO: 2027: Tinubu right to prioritise governance over campaigns — TDF
The group said it was not surprised by the former Vice President’s reaction, arguing that the President’s decision to attend rallies in 12 states was intended to enable him to balance governance with electioneering.
“It is a fact that the President has always been answerable to Nigerians and has not shied away from carrying them along in more than three years of his administration,” the statement read.
TMSG also faulted Atiku’s claim that Tinubu was reluctant to engage directly with Nigerians on his administration’s performance.
It argued that the opposition would have accused the President of abandoning governance for politics if he had announced plans to attend every campaign rally.
The group said Tinubu’s economic reforms had helped stabilise the economy and put the country on a path of growth, adding that the administration’s programmes would influence voters’ decisions in the forthcoming election.
It cited the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, saying more than 1.5 million beneficiaries had benefited from the scheme, and expressed confidence that the students and their families would support Tinubu’s re-election.
TMSG also referenced the payment of N21bn in severance benefits to former Nigeria Airways workers, saying the beneficiaries had waited for more than two decades to receive their entitlements.
According to the group, tax reliefs for low-income earners and small businesses, as well as free Caesarean section and dialysis services in selected hospitals, were among the administration’s interventions that could earn it electoral support.
“These are just some of the people who do not need an Atiku or his media handlers to tell them how to vote. They have already heard the President loud and clear and would not be swayed by promises of a return to fuel subsidy,” it said.
The group also criticised Atiku’s proposed production subsidy initiative, accusing him and his team of failing to provide sufficient details of the policy weeks after publicising aspects of the proposal.
TMSG urged the former Vice President to focus on explaining his campaign promises rather than criticising Tinubu’s decision to limit his physical presence at rallies.
It maintained that the President had done enough across several sectors to justify another four-year term in office.
