Date Published: 01/04/11

Atiku is ignorant of economic issues says Presidency

THE Presidency has criticized former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar’s claims on the budget, saying his desperation has beclouded his knowledge of the workings of the economy.

In a response to the letter Atiku wrote to President Goodluck Jonathan, a top Presidential aide, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) presidential aspirant missed the point in his bid to discredit the government’s economic policies.

The source said: “This is a desperate bid for him to win the sympathy of Nigerians to run as flag bearer of the ruling PDP. For a man of Atiku’s position, being a former VP and one who presently aspires to the top position in the country, talking down on the economy without offering credible alternatives is unforgivable.

"Some of the issues Atiku talked about are those which have been identified by the government and which are currently being addressed by the Jonathan’s administration”.

"Atiku is once again deliberately distorting the facts and misrepresenting the books. His talking down on the economy is a slap on his party and a clear demonstration of his lack of patriotism. By his actions, he is casting aspersion on the country and putting the nation in very bad light both locally and internationally.”

The source added: Such a man is only desperate to get what he wants without putting the interests of the nation at heart. In the letter he wrote, what credible alternatives did he suggest to the government if he were sincere? This clearly shows that Atiku is a man who thinks about himself and his immediate family alone.”

The source maintained that “Atiku’s desperation speaks volume about his credibility and values,” stressing:“Sadly, we have addressed all the issues he talked about in the letter he wrote to Mr. President”.

Contrary to Atiku’s claims, the source said Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Managing Director of the World Bank never criticised the economy.

“In fact the World Bank she works for commended Nigeria’s steady economic growth and for Atiku to begin to use that as reference point shows clearly his gross lack of understanding of the workings of the Nigerian economy”, the source said.

According to the source, contrary to Atiku’s claims, the international credit rating agencies never downgraded Nigeria instead it “reaffirmed the credit rating of Nigeria and commended the government for its robust macroeconomic policies”.

The source said: “It was on the outlook that they expressed reservations because of the forthcoming general elections”.

The Nation