Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has rejected President Bola Tinubu’s allegation that he used public funds to establish a university while in office, saying his investment in education started six years before he became vice-president.
Atiku, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, said he laid the foundation for ABTI Academy in 1993, long before he assumed public office in 1999.
He made the clarification in a statement issued on Saturday by his Director of Strategic Communication, Phrank Shaibu, in response to Tinubu’s remarks at the APC campaign rally in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Tinubu had challenged Atiku to explain how he established a university while serving as vice-president between 1999 and 2007, alleging that public funds were used to finance the institution.
However, Atiku maintained that his investment in education began before his entry into government.
“My history is traceable. I can show Nigerians how I built my name, achieved success in business and entered public leadership. Your own history remains clumsy and foggy,” he said.
The former vice-president also accused Tinubu of shifting attention away from the economic difficulties facing Nigerians by attacking his business record.
Atiku further promised that, if elected president in 2027, he would restore a transparent, production-based fuel subsidy linked to local refining.
He said the policy would reduce energy costs for Nigerians, including the prices of petrol and diesel.
“Nigerians will benefit directly through lower energy costs, including the prices of petrol and diesel,” he added.
