The Peoples Democratic Party’s presidential candidate for the 2023 election, Atiku Abubakar, has leveled accusations against President Bola Tinubu, alleging that Tinubu is planning to initiate a propaganda campaign within the country. Atiku made these allegations in a press statement released by his Special Assistant on Public Communications, Mr. Phrank Shaibu, on a Sunday.
Atiku’s claims come in response to the controversy surrounding reports of the United States Emirates government lifting visa bans on Nigerians, which he dismissed as “fake news” and only “the tip of the iceberg.” He urged Nigerians to prepare for more such developments in the coming weeks.
In his statement, Shaibu pointed out that Tinubu has already appointed more than 15 media aides, seemingly with the intent of disseminating misinformation as part of a state policy, distracting Nigerians from the challenges they are facing. Atiku noted that this pattern resembled Tinubu’s approach during his tenure as Lagos State Governor.
According to the statement, Atiku expects Tinubu to intensify his propaganda efforts as he prepares to attend the United Nations General Assembly. It is anticipated that Tinubu will make claims about attracting foreign investments totaling $100 billion but will likely fail to provide essential details, which Atiku dismisses as mere propaganda.
Atiku and his team further criticized the effectiveness of previous claims by Nigerian authorities, citing examples like promises of foreign investment pledges, foreign exchange unification policies, and the loan obtained by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited. These claims, according to Atiku’s team, often proved to be misleading and ineffective.
The statement also highlighted that the Nigerian currency, the naira, was depreciating significantly on the black market, despite previous assurances. Atiku’s team criticized Tinubu’s recruitment of media aides as a diversion from the pressing economic issues facing the country.
In conclusion, Atiku and his team expressed concern over the current state of the country’s economy, especially in the aftermath of the removal of the petrol subsidy and the minimal wage remaining at N30,000 (approximately $31) per month. They attributed these challenges to alleged electoral fraud and called for patience as judicial authorities address these concerns.