Atiku Challenges Tinubu: Investigate Me If You Have Evidence Over $16bn Power Allegation

 

By Abdulahi Musa 

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has challenged the Federal Government to investigate and prosecute him if it has evidence linking him to wrongdoing over the controversial $16 billion power-sector expenditure.

Atiku, the 2027 presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), made the challenge on Wednesday through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu.

He accused the President Bola Tinubu administration and its supporters of reviving decades-old allegations concerning the power sector, privatisation and public assets whenever questions were raised about the management of government resources.

According to Atiku, the renewed allegations were an attempt to divert public attention from questions surrounding the use of revenues accruing to the government following the removal of petrol subsidy.

He said the National Assembly had previously investigated the power projects but that he was never invited to respond to allegations of wrongdoing.

Atiku acknowledged that he chaired the National Council on Privatisation during his tenure as Vice President but maintained that he did not oversee the implementation of the controversial power project.

“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 said.

The former Vice President, who served from 1999 to 2007, said successive governments had had nearly two decades to investigate him if credible evidence existed against him.

“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.

He challenged the Federal Government to either present evidence and prosecute him or stop what he described as the recycling of unsubstantiated allegations.

“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,” Atiku said.

Atiku also linked the renewed controversy to his criticism of the Tinubu administration's handling of the economic consequences of petrol subsidy removal.

He argued that Nigerians accepted significant hardship after the subsidy was removed based on assurances that the resulting savings would be channelled into development and improve citizens' welfare.

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

The former Vice President further questioned how increased government revenues were being utilised, alleging that fiscal incentives, waivers, tax credits and concessions remained available to powerful economic interests.

“So our question remains brutally simple: WHERE IS THE PEOPLE’S MONEY?” he asked.

Atiku maintained that social-media attacks and the resurfacing of old allegations would not stop him from demanding accountability from the Federal Government or advocating economic policies aimed at improving Nigerians' purchasing power.

He therefore challenged the administration to substantiate any allegation against him through the appropriate legal process.

“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?” he said.