Atiku Counters Tinubu, Says He Invested in Education Before Becoming VP

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has responded to President Bola Tinubu’s criticism of his investment in education, insisting that he began building his educational enterprise years before entering government.

Atiku, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), made the clarification in a statement issued on Saturday, November 7, through his Director of Strategic Communication, Phrank Shaibu.

The response followed Tinubu’s remarks at a political rally in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where the President questioned how Atiku established a university while serving as vice-president under former President Olusegun Obasanjo between 1999 and 2007.

Tinubu alleged that public resources contributed to the establishment of the institution and challenged Atiku to explain how he financed it.

However, Atiku said his investment in education began in 1993, when he laid the foundation for ABTI Academy. The institution later developed into the American University of Nigeria (AUN), located in Yola, Adamawa State.

He argued that the timeline demonstrated that his educational investments predated his time in public office and maintained that his business history could be traced.

Atiku also turned the criticism against Tinubu, referring to a 1993 United States court case involving the forfeiture of $460,000 from an account associated with the President. His comments revived longstanding controversy surrounding the case.

The former vice-president accused Tinubu of using the university issue to divert attention from the economic challenges facing Nigerians, including rising living costs, unemployment and poverty.

He also criticised the administration’s removal of petrol subsidies and promised that, if elected in 2027, he would introduce a transparent, production-based subsidy linked to locally refined fuel.

Atiku said his proposed economic programme, which he calls the Affordable Life campaign, would focus on reducing energy costs, expanding social welfare and improving Nigerians’ living standards.

The exchange comes as political parties and prospective candidates intensify preparations for the 2027 general elections. Both leaders have increasingly used public rallies and statements to challenge each other’s records and economic proposals.

Tinubu has not been independently shown to have substantiated his allegation that Atiku used public funds to establish the university.