TMSG Challenges Atiku to Name Obasanjo-Era Legacy Projects
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TMSG Challenges Atiku to Name Obasanjo-Era Legacy Projects
By Alabidun Shuaib AbdulRahman
The Tinubu Media Support Group, TMSG has challenged the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, Atiku Abubakar, to identify major infrastructure projects initiated and completed by the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, in which he served as Vice-President for eight years.
The group also asked Atiku to identify policies he initiated during his tenure that, according to him, had significantly improved the country.
The challenge followed what the group described as Atiku’s “constant and unrelenting criticism” of projects and policies of the President Bola Tinubu administration ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a statement signed by its Chairman, Emeka Nwankpa, and Secretary, Dapo Okubanjo, the TMSG accused the former Vice-President of repeatedly presenting himself as a more experienced alternative whenever he criticised successive administrations.
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The group said Atiku adopted a similar approach during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, adding that he had also claimed a major role in the policies of the Obasanjo administration.
The statement read, “It is against this backdrop that we urge the ADC presidential candidate to outline for Nigerians the legacy infrastructural projects initiated and completed by that administration in eight years that have stood the test of time.
“Also, it won’t be out of place for him to tell Nigerians the policies he initiated at the time that have over the years made the country a better place.”
The TMSG also questioned claims concerning Atiku’s role in the economic management team under Obasanjo.
The group recalled that former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, had previously challenged claims that Atiku headed the administration’s economic team.
Ezekwesili had described such claims as revisionism and argued that Atiku did not head the Economic Management Team.
The TMSG said that regardless of the dispute over Atiku’s role in the economic team, he could still identify infrastructure projects and policies associated with the administration in which he served.
The group also referred to the $12.4bn Paris Club debt relief secured by Nigeria during the Obasanjo administration and questioned what it described as the limited number of major infrastructure projects associated with the period.
The statement said, “We are aware that it was a period the country paid $12.4 billion for debt relief from the Paris Club of creditors but many Nigerians have over the years asserted that it was done at the expense of crumbling infrastructure especially in the power sector and the absence of critical infrastructure including modern rail network.”
The group acknowledged that subsequent administrations recorded developments in the rail sector, but argued that significant activity in the sector became more visible during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan, before further expansion under Buhari and the current Tinubu administration.
The TMSG further challenged Atiku to explain what it described as the legacy of the administration he served, rather than focusing solely on criticisms of successive governments.
The group said Atiku’s experience as Vice-President gave him an opportunity to demonstrate the achievements of the Obasanjo administration.
It added, “So it won’t be out of place for Atiku Abubakar to prove wrong Nigerians who see him more as the face of everything with the highly flawed privatisation programme of the Obasanjo era by detailing real life-changing legacy infrastructure projects that could be linked to the government he served for eight years as Vice-President.”
The TMSG also accused Atiku and his supporters of portraying him as an economic expert and the principal driver of several Obasanjo-era policies.
It urged Nigerians to examine the former Vice-President’s record in government as political parties and candidates begin preparations for the 2027 presidential election.
