Stop the propaganda, Prosecute Me if you have evidence — Atiku dares Tinubu over $16bn Power projects

Former Vice President and 2027 presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has challenged the administration of President Bola Tinubu to investigate and prosecute him if it has evidence linking him to any wrongdoing over the controversial $16 billion power sector projects.

Atiku, through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, said renewed allegations linking him to the projects and other public assets were an attempt to divert attention from questions surrounding the management of public funds.

The former Vice President said the National Assembly had previously investigated the power projects but never invited him to answer any allegation of misconduct.

“The National Assembly investigated the power projects. I was never invited to answer any allegation of wrongdoing,” Atiku said.

He acknowledged that he chaired the National Council on Privatisation while serving as Vice President but stressed that he did not supervise the implementation of the power projects.

“Yes, I chaired the National Council on Privatisation as Vice President. But on the power project, I disagreed with its concept and did not preside over its implementation. The responsible minister did. The same applies to the Aluminium Smelter matter,” he added.

Atiku maintained that he had nothing to fear from an investigation and challenged the Federal Government to present evidence if it believed he had misappropriated public funds.

“I have repeatedly asked to be investigated. I left office in 2007 and have spent much of the period since then opposing governments in power. If there is evidence that I stole public money, why has no government produced it before a court?” he asked.

“It is still not too late. Investigate me. Invite me. Produce the evidence. Prosecute me if you have a case. But propaganda cannot substitute for evidence.”

The former Vice President’s comments come amid an increasingly heated political exchange with the Tinubu administration, particularly over the use of resources generated following the removal of petrol subsidy.

Atiku argued that Nigerians accepted the hardship associated with subsidy removal based on assurances that the savings would be redirected towards development and measures that would improve their welfare.

“They removed subsidy from the poor and promised that the sacrifice would free resources for development. Nigerians accepted extraordinary pain on that promise,” he said.

According to him, the cost of petrol, transportation and food has increased, while the purchasing power of Nigerian workers has significantly weakened.

“Today, petrol is more expensive, transportation is more expensive, food is more expensive and the purchasing power of the Nigerian worker has been devastated,” Atiku added.

He also questioned how increased government revenues were being utilised, particularly in relation to tax incentives, waivers and other concessions available to businesses and wealthy interests.

“So our question remains brutally simple: Where is the people’s money?” he asked.

Atiku accused the government and its supporters of attempting to divert attention from these questions through what he described as “sponsored social-media mudslinging”.

He insisted that allegations dating back several years should not be used as a substitute for evidence, arguing that successive administrations had sufficient access to Nigeria’s investigative institutions to establish any wrongdoing.

“The people who removed subsidy from the poor cannot frighten us into silence by resurrecting allegations that governments with all the investigative machinery of the Nigerian state have had nearly two decades to establish,” he said.

“If you have evidence against Atiku, bring it. If you have a case, prosecute it. But if you have neither, stop manufacturing distractions and answer Nigerians: You removed the subsidy. You collected the savings. Where is the money?”

The latest exchange comes as Atiku continues to campaign for a different approach to petrol pricing ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

The ADC candidate has proposed what he describes as a targeted subsidy intervention aimed at reducing the cost of living and restoring Nigerians’ purchasing power.

The Presidency has criticised the proposal, citing what it described as conflicting explanations from Atiku and members of his media team regarding the proposed policy, including its funding, beneficiaries and duration.

Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has also questioned how the proposed intervention would work and when it would eventually be phased out.

The Federal Government has maintained that petrol prices are influenced by several factors, including crude oil prices, exchange rates, refining costs, transportation and distribution, and has continued to defend the economic reforms introduced by the Tinubu administration.

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