By Abankula



Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has dismissed President Buhari’s cabinet as incompetent, “lacking in qualified hands”.

In a language that betrays a deep contempt, Atiku dismissed the team for its inability to “think outside the box”.

Atiku passed the verdict in a long essay circulated today on how Nigeria and Africa can surmount the effects of the coronavirus.

He said the oil crisis being faced by the Buhari administration was also faced by the Obasanjo administration.

Atiku argued that the oil price crash should not be enough to trigger an economic crisis.

Nigeria’s 2020 budget was predicated on $57, but oil prices are now in the $30s range after falling into the 20s.

Atiku argued said the situation does not call for panic.

“After all, the current price of oil was lower than it is today when President Obasanjo and I assumed office on May 29, 1999. Yet we paid off Nigeria’s entire foreign debt.

“However, there are two remarkable differences. The first is that we had a stellar cabinet between 1999-2007.

“We had the right people manning our economy.

“We certainly would not have proposed to take out a $500 million loan to digitalise the Nigerian Television Authority, or devote ₦37 billion to renovating the National Assembly complex (which was built from the scratch at less than 20% of that amount)”, he said.

Atiku pummelled the Buhari government further:

“Today’s Nigerian government is severely lacking in qualified hands. And nothing proves this than the state of the Presidency itself.

“To think that after devoting ₦13 billion to the State House Clinic in the last five years, it is virtually useless as we face the most significant public health challenge of our national life. That is a pointer to the state of our federal government”.

Atiku wondered why the Buhari administration is always quick to seek foreign loans to solve domestic economic problems.

“Why is it that the Nigerian government is always quick to want to borrow at every instance?

“It shows a lazy mindset and an inability to take those sacrifices necessary to get the economy into shape.

” Worse still it proves that we do not, as of yet, have the ability to think outside the box for genuine solutions.


” We cannot be looking to borrow huge sums at the same time our officials are taking delivery of foreign made luxury cars.

“We cannot be considered a serious country when we refuse to cut down on profligacy and instead seek outside help to fund our inefficiencies.

“Even in our own individual houses, when things get tight, the first thing we should do is cut down on unnecessary expenditure and then you look for creative ways to generate funds and develop our household economy, before we even seek outside funding.

” A situation where the Nigerian government always seeks outside funding, which, by the way has to be repaid if ever granted, displays an inadequacy in the thinking process of our leaders at the moment.

He advised the Buhari government to wade into the Saudi-Russia price war that is one of the reasons for the crash in oil prices.

“Nigeria must bring her weight (like we had done in the past) to bear to force an early cessation of hostilities so that oil prices could start looking up.

“And secondly, we must insist that the Abacha loots held back by various Western governments must be immediately and unconditionally returned to Nigeria.

“We have a humanitarian crisis on our hands. I believe that President Trump is a reasonable man.

“He knows that if nothing is done to avoid the foreseeable dislocation of African economies, the next wave of mass migration to the United States would not be from Mexico.

“The worst thing we can do now is to wring our hands and look to outsiders. Not now.

“The leadership in Abuja and the rest of Africa cannot afford to be lethargic while the rest of the world is scrambling to save what they can of their economies.

“In Nigeria, it is already clear that we must abandon the 2020 budget and come up with a more realistic budget.

“Our oil benchmark is way off the mark. And we are certainly no longer in a position to budget ₦100 billion plus for our legislatures and almost ₦50 billion for the Presidency (in truth, we were never in a position to do that)”.

https://www.pmnewsnigeria.com/2020/04/07/atiku-shreds-buharis-cabinet-says-its-incompetent/



Lalasticlala

A half dead man can only assemble dead brains so that they will not outsmart him. It is in Buhari's tenure that we have dead people (people already buried) appointed to different positions with the singular excuse that the president didn't know they were dead or that some of them were enlisted for the appointment before they died. Yet the president went ahead to approve their appointments without any check. That alone made me to understand that the man in Aso Rock is not only lazy but half dead as well. Nothing he or any of his appointees does that surprises me anymore.

We must insist on the Abacha loot bla bla bla.

Is the Abacha loot even up to 1 billion dollars?

Should Nigeria receive a windfall of 1 billion dollars would it be sufficient for a country of 200 million people?

Playing to the gallery as usual.

Atiku should shut his hypocritical corrupt mouth, as you take install buhari without disturbing us go and uninstall him

Well said

He advised the Buhari government to wade into the Saudi-Russia price war that is one of the reasons for the crash in oil prices.

“Nigeria must bring her weight (like we had done in the past) to bear to force an early cessation of hostilities so that oil prices could start looking up

When I got to the above statement, I stopped reading cos it means Atiku is either ignorant or is just being mischievous.

The oil price war between the Saudis and the Russians is not merely about a dispute over who should make deeper cuts to its oil production outputs or not but goes way beyond that, it's complex and involves some diplomatic issues between Russia and the US.

Moscow’s target is the US shale industry which cannot survive the low prices due to its very high production costs. This industry is key to US energy independence and contributes a large chunk of US GDP.

The Americans are feeling the heat with some shale oil companies filing for bankruptcy, laying off workers etc. This isn't good for Trump going into an election.

The Saudis will also be happy to see the collapse of US shale but the beauty of this for them is that they can blame it on the Russians.

Trump has been trying to intervene to get the matter resolved. He is also threatening to impose import tariffs on Saudi and Russian oil imports to the US. But Moscow will aim to use this as a bargaining chip to get Trump to lift sanctions targeted at Russia's Nord Stream II gas pipeline among others in return for Russia cutting outputs.

We’re in a three-way Mexican stand-off with three big players in the room. How exactly does Atiku expect Nigeria to get involved.

Well written and composed by Atiku Abubakar... Buhari is clueless, useless, inept and incompetent as a president.. I wonder if he knows anything about 5the happenings in Aso rock not alone in Nigeria..

Since we are in democracy, Atiku Abubakar like every Nigerian is entitled to have his say even if he doesn't have his way. However, it is very easy to compose eye-catching statements or put up a drama to play to the gallery. Meanwhile, what you did and doing say more about you.

Therefore, I have one question for Atiku Abubakar, for the all influence he wielded as a super vice president between 1999 - 2003, why didn't he spearhead diversification of the economy? If the foundation of diversification was laid then, we would have been consolidating by now. He boasts of 1999 - 2007 as though it was a golden era but in reality apart from debt forgiveness, nothing tangible changed in that period in spite of having "capable hands". What happened to billions of dollars budgeted for power?

The fact that Atiku Abubakar was investigated and indicted by US Congress for laundering money diverted from Nigerian treasury says much of what contributed to the present state of the country. Why is it every former Nigerian state governors, ministers, legislators, etc have either a house or a mall in Dubai?

God will save us sha!

He's right. But he is NOT am option either.

Cant wait to see what Osinbajo has in store for us.

[s]

Corrinthians:
He's right. But he is NOT am option either.

Cant wait to see what Osinbajo has in store for us.

[/s]

Tell themooo, bunch of incompetent failure.

Once a failure always a failure. Buhari was a faliure as a Military head of state, and also a failure as a civilian president.

Twice the Nation entered into recession, and one man was the head of state those times, Buhari.

All he knows is to squander wealth and resources , he does not know how to create wealth.

Look at the ASO ROCK clinic, after spending over #13B, it is not fit to treat Buhari, and his chief of staff Abba Kyari.

Shame on this government, shame also on those that claimed sophistication yet went and elected a dullard to rule a complex Nation like Nigeria.

Atiku highlighted key points that every reasonable Nigerians irrespective of political affiliation should look into. Why must we continue to borrow and borrow to solve our internal problems?? I don't know how if this advise to mortgage Nigerian future via incessant borrowing came from the Economic Council Team even before that borrowing has also been the order of the day on solving pertinent issues.

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rusher14:
We must insait's on the Abacha loot bla bla bla.

Is the Abacha loot even up to 1 billion dollars?

Should Nigeria receive a windfall of 1 billion dollars would it be sufficient for a country of 200 million people?

Playing to the gallery as usual.

Don't be such an oaf! It is one of many options that he proffered and every drop counts!

Eteka1:
He advised the Buhari government to wade into the Saudi-Russia price war that is one of the reasons for the crash in oil prices.

“Nigeria must bring her weight (like we had done in the past) to bear to force an early cessation of hostilities so that oil prices could start looking up

When I got to the above statement, I stopped reading cos it means he is either ignorant or is just being mischievous.

Did Buhari not promise to stabilise oil prices during his 2014/2015 campaign? He is now being called upon to make good his promise abi Atiku do bad?

Corrinthians:
He's right. But he is NOT am option either.

Cant wait to see what Osinbajo has in store for us.

Good thing you agree that he is right. Y'all are also very quick to remind us that Bubu and Osi are a team so you will not separate one from the other now, they are both incompetent and Osi is not a viable option either!

mushystuff:


Don't be such an oaf! It is one of many options that he proffered and every drop counts!

Don't be stupid.

Why weren't all the sums given to him whilst he was in power? After all, he was in Power for 8 years?

Atiku may not be a Saint but he is always right on things of the economy

teadrake:
Atiku highlighted key points that every reasonable Nigerians irrespective of political affiliation should look into. Why must we continue to borrow and borrow to solve our internal problems?? I don't know how if this advise to mortgage Nigerian future via incessant borrowing came from the Economic Council Team even before that borrowing has also been the order of the day on solving pertinent issues.

Why do Nigerians like to fool themselves?

How much does the country generate that you would not borrow?

Same you would decry infrastructural deficit or decay, yet you would want all your friends, families, associates to work in the civil service.

When VAT is raised you would cry.

When subsidies are paid, you would cry.

When subsidies are removed, you would cry.

Just face it, it is clear hate for a leader you did not vote.

As I always say, the president would do his 8 years and leave.

He has nothing to lose but you, that keeps opposing everything without asking yourself if it is realistic or even in your best interest would face the consequences.

rusher14:


Don't be stupid.

Why weren't all the sums given to him whilst he was in power? After all, he was in Power for 8 years?

What exactly is your point

Alternate president

N37 BILLION for a place built from scratch with less than 20% of the said money.

N150 Billion for NASS
N50 billion for Presidency.

rusher14:


Don't be stupid.

Why weren't all the sums given to him whilst he was in power? After all, he was in Power for 8 years?

Like I said, it is one of many options especially since Bubu and crew are too dumb to keep the economy vibrant without borrowing like covidiots! Open your eyes and look well o!

nzeobi:

What exactly is your point

Don't mind that one.

The difference is clear

mushystuff:


Like I said, it is one of many options especially since Bubu and crew are too dumb to keep the economy vibrant without borrowing! Open your eyes and look well o!

It is impossible except you elect to slash salaries of the civil service or impose outright retrenchment.

The oil companies would be shedding their workforce in less than 3 months, some are already doing so.

We are talking about multinationals that make more than your country, with fewer workers.

And you are talking as if borrowing is a sin.

Nigerians must stop seeing borrowing as if it a plague.

Funny enough, a key member of the Atiku's "Stellar" Cabinet, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala was borrowing to pay salaries just few years ago, as the price of our major export, oil, dipped in the international market.


So much for not borrowing.