Atiku Fires Back at Tinubu Over University Allegation, Says Investment Predates Public Office
Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has dismissed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s allegation that he used public funds to establish a private university while serving as vice-president, describing the accusation as a desperate attempt to distract Nigerians from the failures of his administration.
Atiku, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate for the 2027 general election, said his investment in education began long before he assumed public office, insisting that the foundation of what later became the American University of Nigeria (AUN) was laid in 1993.
The former vice-president was responding to Tinubu’s remarks at the Rainbow Coalition presidential rally in Rivers State on Saturday, where the president questioned the source of funding for the university established by Atiku during his time in government.
Tinubu had accused Atiku of using public resources to establish the institution while serving as vice-president under former President Olusegun Obasanjo between 1999 and 2007.
The president, while defending his administration against criticisms over the rising cost of living and hunger, argued that some opposition politicians attacking his government were part of the leadership responsible for Nigeria’s present challenges.
He challenged Atiku to explain how he established a university while serving in government, questioning the former vice-president’s moral suitability to seek the presidency.
However, in a statement issued on Saturday, November 7, by his Director of Strategic Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku maintained that his investment in education predated his involvement in government.
According to him, the foundation of ABTI Academy was laid in 1993, several years before he became vice-president in 1999.
Atiku also referenced a United States court proceeding involving an account allegedly linked to Tinubu, arguing that the president’s past had remained a subject of public controversy.
He said Tinubu could not erase questions surrounding his own history by attacking his investment in education.
Turning to the state of the economy, Atiku accused the president of plunging Nigerians into unprecedented hardship, rising poverty, insecurity and unemployment.
He also faulted the administration’s handling of the petrol subsidy removal, insisting that Nigeria could adopt a transparent, production-based subsidy arrangement tied to local refining.
The ADC presidential candidate promised that, if elected in 2027, his administration would introduce measures to reduce energy costs, improve social welfare and ensure that financial assistance reaches economically vulnerable Nigerians.
Atiku further criticised Tinubu’s campaign Director-General over comments blaming hunger on the laziness of Nigerians, describing the remarks as evidence of the administration’s failure to acknowledge the suffering of citizens.
He maintained that the Tinubu administration had failed to provide sufficient achievements to justify another four years in office, insisting that Nigerians deserved an alternative leadership.
The former vice-president also dismissed suggestions that he could be prevented from contesting the 2027 presidential election, declaring that he would be on the ballot and would defeat Tinubu.
“My Affordable Life campaign will not be silenced by your insults or your threats. I will lead Nigeria back to prosperity, growth and development,” Atiku said.
The exchange comes amid growing political hostilities ahead of the 2027 general election, with Tinubu and opposition figures increasingly trading accusations over the economy, governance and their respective records in public office.