Tinubu jabs Atiku over privatisation record, questions outcomes
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has taken a swipe at Atiku Abubakar, questioning the outcomes of privatisation exercises carried out during Atiku’s tenure as chairman of the National Council on Privatisation.
Speaking on Thursday at the State House in Abuja during a meeting with leaders and coordinators of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors, Tinubu cited the steel sector, including Ajaokuta, asking whether such assets were functioning effectively today.
“If you look at one of them… the head was the Chairman of the Privatisation Council of Nigeria at one time. He privatised the steel industry in Delta is it working today? No,” the president said.
He added, “They privatised Ajaokuta. Is it working today? Go on the list.”
The meeting was attended by members of the group drawn from the 36 states of the federation and led by Hope Uzodimma, who serves as its director-general.
Tinubu also dismissed opposition figures as “noise-makers” who, he said, do not respect the rule of law, insisting he would not be distracted from governance.
“They want to scare me off? It is a lie. I have been through this path before,” he said.
“One thing that you need from me is a promise: I won’t run away from the affairs of the nation.”
Reflecting on his emergence in the 2023 elections, the president described both the party primaries and the general poll as difficult but said the experience had prepared him for leadership.
“During the primary that brought me here, it was tough. During the general election that brought me here, it was tough,” he said.
He stressed the need to uphold the rule of law and respect judicial authority, noting that democracy must be anchored on strong institutions.
“We cannot submit to disobedience of a lawful order of the court. We must embrace the judiciary whether it favours us or it doesn’t,” he said.
Tinubu called for national unity, urging political actors to work towards “one country, one common vision for progress and prosperity”.
He also urged members of the All Progressives Congress to remain united ahead of the 2027 elections, saying the party must stand firm against forces opposed to national transformation.
The president reaffirmed his commitment to delivering on campaign promises, adding that the Renewed Hope Ambassadors had been mobilised to support the ruling party’s agenda.