Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has defended his investment in education, insisting that he laid the foundation for ABTI Academy in 1993, six years before becoming vice-president.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate was responding to President Bola Tinubu’s remarks at the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign rally in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Saturday.
Tinubu had questioned how Atiku funded the establishment of a university while serving as vice-president between 1999 and 2007, raising concerns about whether public resources were used for the project.
In a statement issued on Saturday by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, Atiku said his investment in education began long before he entered public office.
He accused Tinubu of attempting to divert attention from his administration’s performance by questioning his educational investments.
“The answer is simple: my investment in education predates my time in public service. In 1993, while a U.S. court ordered the forfeiture of funds in an account in your name, describing them as proceeds of narcotics trafficking or funds involved in unlawful financial transactions, I was laying the foundation for ABTI Academy,” Atiku said.
“That Academy has since grown into the American University of Nigeria.”
Atiku maintained that his business history was traceable, insisting that Tinubu could not undermine his record by attacking his investment in education.
He also criticised the President’s economic policies, accusing his administration of worsening poverty, unemployment, insecurity and the rising cost of living.
The former vice-president claimed that more than 79 million Nigerians had been pushed into extreme poverty under Tinubu’s administration.
“A president who has plunged the country into a crushing cost-of-living crisis has no business asking Nigerians for another mandate. The real conversation about the 2027 election is how to repair the damage your government has done,” he said.
Atiku also faulted Tinubu’s position that Nigeria could not return to subsidised petrol prices, promising that his administration would introduce what he described as a transparent, production-based subsidy linked to local fuel refining if elected in 2027.
“You say Nigeria will never return to subsidised petrol prices. You are wrong. By the grace of the Almighty and with the mandate of the Nigerian people, I will restore a transparent, production-based subsidy tied to the local refining of fuel,” he said.
“Nigerians will benefit directly through lower energy costs, including the prices of petrol and diesel.”
He further promised to increase investment in social welfare programmes and address what he described as an opaque system for distributing funds meant for economically vulnerable Nigerians.
The ADC candidate also accused Tinubu of attempting to prevent him from appearing on the ballot in the 2027 presidential election, insisting that he would contest against the President.
“You want me off the ballot at all costs, but the will of the Nigerian people will prevail. I will be on that ballot, and I will beat you decisively,” Atiku said.
He maintained that his Affordable Life campaign offered an alternative to the current administration’s policies, adding that he would lead Nigeria towards prosperity, economic growth and development if elected.
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