Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has challenged the President Bola Tinubu administration to investigate and prosecute him if it has evidence linking him to any wrongdoing, accusing the government and its supporters of reviving old allegations to divert attention from questions over the management of public funds.

Atiku, in a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, said the renewed allegations surrounding the power sector, privatisation and public assets were attempts to shift public attention away from the economic hardship Nigerians have experienced since the removal of the petrol subsidy.

The former vice president particularly questioned how the revenues accruing to government following the subsidy removal were being utilised.

Atiku said allegations concerning his tenure as chairman of the National Council on Privatisation had been raised repeatedly without resulting in any prosecution.

He explained that although he chaired the council while serving as vice president, he disagreed with the concept of the power project in question and did not oversee its implementation.

“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 said.

According to Atiku, the National Assembly had previously investigated the power projects but he was not invited to respond to allegations of wrongdoing.

“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,” he added.

‘Where Is the Money Saved From Subsidy Removal?’

Atiku argued that the central issue facing the Tinubu administration was not allegations dating back several years but accountability over the funds generated since the removal of petrol subsidy.

He said Nigerians had accepted significant economic hardship after the government promised that removing the subsidy would free up resources for development.

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

He also alleged that while government revenues had increased, fiscal incentives, waivers, tax credits and concessions continued to benefit powerful economic interests.

He therefore demanded greater transparency over the utilisation of the funds generated since the subsidy was removed.

“So our question remains brutally simple: Where is the people’s money?” he asked.

Atiku accused the government of applying what he described as a double standard by withdrawing subsidies and relief measures for ordinary Nigerians while providing incentives to powerful economic interests.

He maintained that Nigerians deserved clear explanations on how additional government revenues were being spent and what tangible benefits had resulted from the economic reforms.

The former vice president said he would not be intimidated by what he described as social-media attacks or attempts to resurrect unproven allegations against him.

“The people who removed subsidy from the poor cannot frighten us into silence by resurrecting allegations that governments with all the investigative machinery of the Nigerian state have had nearly two decades to establish,” he said.

Atiku concluded by challenging the administration to either present evidence against him or focus on answering Nigerians’ questions about the management of public resources.

“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?”