Former Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, has criticised former Vice President Atiku Abubakar over his recent comments on the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Dare’s reaction followed Atiku’s press conference in Abuja, where the former vice president addressed the President as “Bola” while presenting proposals on how the government could reduce petrol prices and ease economic pressures.
In a statement, Dare questioned Atiku’s approach to engaging the sitting president, arguing that political disagreements should not undermine respect for the office of the President.
He also criticised Atiku for presenting what he described as unsolicited policy prescriptions and attempting to set a timeline for the implementation of his proposals.
Dare argued that Atiku’s interventions should instead be presented to Nigerians through the appropriate political and campaign platforms ahead of the 2027 elections.
The former minister also defended the Tinubu administration’s economic reform agenda, describing the ongoing reforms as efforts to address structural challenges within the Nigerian economy.
He said economic reforms could involve short-term difficulties while pursuing longer-term objectives, and argued that criticism of the administration should take into account the broader policy context.
Dare further raised questions about issues associated with Atiku’s political record, including the controversy surrounding the Mambilla power project, saying such matters should be addressed with clarity and evidence.
He also criticised what he described as Atiku’s changing positions on economic intervention and petrol pricing.
According to Dare, Atiku should focus on presenting his political and economic proposals to Nigerians as a presidential contender rather than attempting to direct the activities of a sitting government.
He maintained that political competition and disagreements were part of democratic practice, but urged political actors to maintain respect for the institutions of government.
Dare concluded that the Tinubu administration would continue implementing its policies while the 2027 election would provide an opportunity for Nigerians to assess competing political programmes.
