2027: Atiku you are a hypocrite, a con artist – Keyamo

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has accused former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar of hypocrisy over his criticism of President Bola Tinubu’s handling of Nigeria’s economy.

Keyamo, in a post on X, questioned Atiku’s record in government, accusing the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo of abandoning thousands of Nigeria Airways workers without paying their pensions and gratuities.

His response followed Atiku’s call on Nigerians to collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) ahead of the 2027 elections, blaming Tinubu for rising living costs and insecurity.

“Bola made life expensive. I will work to make life affordable again and restore the security every Nigerian deserves,” Atiku wrote.

The former vice-president lamented that parents struggled to feed their children, pensioners faced difficult choices between food and medication, while families lived in fear of kidnapping and attacks.

Responding, Keyamo wrote: “Your Excellency, Atiku Abubakar, this is hypocrisy at its peak! Let me just talk only about the sector that I head, Aviation.”

He accused the Obasanjo-Atiku administration of liquidating Nigeria Airways in September 2004, leaving thousands of workers unemployed.

“In September, 2004, when you were Vice-President, your Government woke up one morning and liquidated Nigeria Airways, throwing thousands of Nigerian out of jobs and into sorrow and pain,” he stated.

Keyamo alleged that the affected workers were denied pensions and gratuities running into billions of naira.

According to him, Tinubu recently approved and released ₦36 billion to settle the outstanding entitlements, with beneficiaries already receiving payments.

He also claimed that some former workers had died while awaiting their benefits.

“Yet you sit down there and pontificate? It’s only the younger ones who don’t know your history you can attempt to hoodwink, but we will expose you to them,” Keyamo said.

The minister accused Atiku of selectively taking credit for the Obasanjo administration’s achievements while distancing himself from its controversial decisions.

“When it is convenient for you, you claim some credit of the Obasanjo-Atiku government and when not convenient, you say Obasanjo was in charge and not you as Vice-President,” he wrote.

Keyamo concluded his response by describing Atiku’s position as “The proper posturing of a con artist!”