Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, on Thursday said the present Muhammadu Buhari administration is lacking in having the requisite capacity to formulate policies for Nigeria’s economy.
The ex VP, who last week announced his withdrawal of his APC membership, said he has never witnessed the present challenges confronting the nation in his past 28 years of politics.
He said this when he played host to a delegation of Middle Belt Publishers and Media Managers Forum in Abuja.
The economic policy, he said, is key to development as it affects every aspect of governance.
Mr Atiku said Nigerians are going through excruciating pains, with only a sound economic policy to remedy the plight.
“I am sorry to say that if there is one critical thing this government does not have is its lack of capacity to fashion out an economic policy that is required for any government to use to address challenges,” he said.
In what appears to be a reaction to his decision to decamp from the ruling part, Mr Atiku said in his over 28 years in active politics, he has come to the realization that there is no political decision taken that would attract 100 percent acceptability.
He said most people criticising his decision to dump the APC are talking from either weak or sentimental point of view which, he said, is permissible in democracy and as part of freedom of speech.
“It is a question of views but matters most is having a superior point of view over what is being publicly expressed from an inferior point of view. I don’t lose sleep as a result of such comments any longer,” he said.
He commended the Middle Belt media chiefs for their steadfastness in pursuing the truth and supporting his aspiration, saying what matters to him most is a sound economic base for Nigeria to be able to create jobs, provide needed infrastructures, qualitative education, better welfare for Nigerians amongst other things.
Spokesperson of the delegation, Cletus Akwaya, who is also the Publisher of Daily Assets newspapers, had earlier said the leadership qualities of Atiku are presently needed by Nigerians at this critical point in the nation’s history.
Mr Akwaya said the media is beginning to question the rationale of some political elites in Nigeria who are against tested and dependable leaders like Atiku that can deliver the needed goods from becoming President.
