Atiku Abubakar, the former presidential candidate, has urged President Bola Tinubu to address serious inquiries posed by The Economist regarding approximately 20 billion dollars in projects connected to Gilbert Chagoury, a long-time associate of the president. Represented by his aide Phrank Shaibu, Atiku stated that these findings have transformed local concerns about government procurement into a significant international credibility issue.
Atiku noted that 20 billion dollars, roughly 27 trillion naira, represents an enormous portion of national wealth. He questioned why such vast contracts were funneled toward an individual close to the current administration. He emphasized that the public cannot be expected to endure severe economic hardship while presidential associates seemingly benefit from massive government deals.
The statement calls for clear answers regarding how these contracts were issued, whether they involved competitive bidding, and what specific tax benefits were provided. Atiku argued that the administration must move beyond dismissing critics and instead directly address the issues of cronyism and procurement integrity. He insisted that the president must release full details on ownership structures and contract terms to prove that the country is being managed fairly rather than as a private investment entity.
