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The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has criticised former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar over his comments on Nigeria’s economic challenges, accusing him of hypocrisy and blaming the administration in which he served for the liquidation of Nigeria Airways.
Keyamo made the remarks in a post on his official X handle on Wednesday, arguing that Atiku should account for the decisions taken by the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, during which he served as vice-president.
The minister specifically cited the liquidation of Nigeria Airways in September 2004, which he said left thousands of former workers without jobs and unpaid pensions and gratuities.
“Your Excellency, Atiku Abubakar, this is hypocrisy at its peak! Let me just talk only about the sector that I head, Aviation,” Keyamo wrote.
He alleged that the former workers had struggled for years to receive their outstanding entitlements, which he said amounted to billions of naira, while some of them had died without receiving the money owed to them.
₦36bn approved for former workers
Keyamo said President Bola Tinubu had approved and released ₦36bn to settle outstanding payments owed to former Nigeria Airways workers.
According to the minister, some beneficiaries have started receiving payment alerts following the release of the funds.
“Twenty-two years later, after many of them have died out of frustration, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is now clearing the mess you left behind,” he stated.
“Over a month ago, Mr President approved and released the total sum of ₦36bn to bring succour to these families. They have started receiving alerts and praying for Mr President. In fact, the President was given an award for this by the workers’ union a few weeks ago,” he added.
The minister did not provide a breakdown of the payments or the number of former workers who had received their entitlements in the statement.
Accuses Atiku of distancing himself from decisions
Keyamo further accused Atiku of taking credit for decisions made by the Obasanjo administration when politically convenient while distancing himself from the government’s actions at other times.
He argued that the former vice-president could not celebrate the achievements of the administration in which he served and disclaim responsibility for its controversial decisions.
“When it is convenient for you, you claim some credit for the Obasanjo-Atiku government, and when not convenient, you say Obasanjo was in charge and not you as Vice-President,” the minister said.
Keyamo also accused Atiku of attempting to mislead younger Nigerians who might not be familiar with the history of the defunct national carrier, insisting that the circumstances surrounding its liquidation should be considered in assessing the former vice-president’s comments on the country’s current challenges.
Atiku had earlier criticised the rising cost of living and insecurity in Nigeria, promising to make life more affordable and restore security if elected president.
The former vice-president made the pledge in a post on his official X account on Wednesday, while urging registered voters to collect their Permanent Voter Cards ahead of the next general election.
His comments and Keyamo’s response have brought renewed attention to the political debate over responsibility for past government decisions and the challenges facing Nigerians, including the cost of living, insecurity and the management of public institutions.
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