Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has fired back at President Bola Tinubu over questions about his investment in education, challenging the President over the controversial $460,000 forfeiture case in the United States.
Atiku said he began investing in education long before joining government, recalling that he laid the foundation for ABTI Academy in 1993. The institution later developed into the American University of Nigeria (AUN).
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate made the remarks in a statement on Saturday through his Director of Strategic Communication, Phrank Shaibu.
He accused Tinubu of attempting to divert attention from his administration’s performance by questioning the source of his investment in education.
According to Atiku, the foundation of ABTI Academy was laid in 1993, around the time a US court ordered the forfeiture of $460,000 in an account bearing Tinubu’s name in proceedings involving allegations of narcotics-related proceeds or unlawful financial transactions.
He argued that his investment in education was evidence of a business history that predated his political career, insisting that the President’s attacks would not undermine his record.
Atiku subsequently shifted attention to the economy, accusing the Tinubu administration of deepening poverty, unemployment, insecurity and the cost-of-living crisis.
He questioned the benefits of the removal of petrol subsidy, asking Nigerians to consider whether the policy had brought relief or pushed more households into hardship.
The former Vice-President also disputed the government’s position that Nigeria could not return to subsidised petrol prices.
He promised that an ADC government would introduce a transparent, production-based subsidy tied to local refining, which he said would reduce the cost of petrol, diesel and other energy products.
Atiku further accused the administration of failing to protect vulnerable citizens, claiming that more than 79 million Nigerians had been pushed into extreme poverty.
He also promised to reform social welfare programmes and end what he described as the opaque distribution of assistance meant for economically disadvantaged Nigerians.
Defending his Affordable Life campaign, Atiku said it would offer Nigerians an alternative focused on economic recovery, social protection and improved living conditions.
He insisted that he would remain on the ballot for the 2027 presidential election and expressed confidence that he would defeat Tinubu.
The exchange marks another escalation in the political rivalry between the two leaders as preparations for the 2027 general elections gather momentum.
Tinubu’s forfeiture case was a civil proceeding in the United States and should not be confused with a criminal conviction.
