Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has fired back at President Bola Tinubu over allegations that he used public funds to establish a university while in office, insisting that he founded ABTI Academy in 1993, six years before becoming vice-president.
Atiku said his investment in education predated his entry into government, arguing that his business record was open to public scrutiny.
He made the remarks in a statement issued on Saturday by his Director of Strategic Communication, Phrank Shaibu, in response to Tinubu’s comments at the presidential campaign rally in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Tinubu had questioned how Atiku established a university while serving as vice-president under former President Olusegun Obasanjo between 1999 and 2007, alleging that public funds were used to finance the institution.
“Ask him how he built the university while in office as vice-president in charge of our economy. Who built the university for him? It’s your money. A man without moral integrity and ethics,” the President said.
However, Atiku said he laid the foundation for ABTI Academy in 1993, which later developed into the American University of Nigeria (AUN) in Yola, Adamawa State.
“The answer is simple: my investment in education predates my time in public service. In 1993, while a US court ordered the forfeiture of funds in an account in your name, describing them as proceeds of narcotics trafficking or funds involved in unlawful financial transactions, I was laying the foundation for ABTI Academy,” he said.
The ADC presidential candidate also challenged Tinubu’s personal and business history, insisting that his own career and investments could be traced.
No court ruling can stop me from 2027 ballot — Atiku
“That moment captures the difference between us. 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.
Atiku accused the President of using his business record to divert attention from the economic hardship confronting Nigerians.
He also criticised Tinubu’s position on petrol subsidy, questioning whether the administration’s economic policies were pushing more Nigerians into poverty, debt, insecurity and unemployment.
The former vice-president alleged that more than 79 million Nigerians had been pushed into extreme poverty under the current administration. He also faulted a remark attributed to Tinubu’s campaign Director-General describing hungry Nigerians as lazy.
Outlining his proposed economic policies under his Affordable Life campaign, Atiku promised to introduce what he described as a transparent, production-based petrol subsidy tied to local refining.
“By the grace of the Almighty and with the mandate of the Nigerian people, I will restore a transparent, production-based subsidy tied to the local refining of fuel. Nigerians will benefit directly through lower energy costs, including the prices of petrol and diesel,” he said.
He further pledged to expand social welfare programmes and tackle the alleged diversion of funds meant for economically vulnerable Nigerians.
Atiku served as vice-president between 1999 and 2007 and is seeking the presidency under the African Democratic Congress in the 2027 general election.
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