Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has taken another swipe at former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar over his recent criticism of President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms.
In a brief post on X on Thursday, Keyamo questioned Atiku’s knowledge of economics, describing him as a “sanitary inspector disguising as an economist”.
Atiku obtained a diploma from the Kano School of Hygiene earlier in his education. The institution is associated with public health and sanitation training.
His qualification is generally regarded as vocational training in hygiene and environmental sanitation rather than the equivalent of a university degree in economics, finance or public administration.
In recent weeks, Vice-President Kashim Shettima and other All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders have cited Atiku’s educational background at the Kano institution as a limitation to his suitability to govern Nigeria.
Shettima first referred to Atiku’s sanitation background on October 14 during the inauguration of the APC presidential campaign council in Abuja.
“With all due respect to Vice President Atiku Abubakar, he was trained in Kano School of Hygiene as Duba-gari in Hausa and Wole-wole in Yoruba,” he said.
The vice-president also warned Nigerians against taking advice from opposition politicians, whom he labelled “voodoo economists” lacking an understanding of the workings of a modern economy.
Shettima revisited the issue on Monday at the 32nd Nigerian Economic Summit in Abuja, arguing that Atiku, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, lacks the expertise required to manage a modern economy.
His comments followed Atiku’s pledge to restore petrol subsidy if elected president. Shettima argued that the proposal would push Nigeria back into poverty.
“One of the leading presidential candidates (Atiku) is advocating a return to the subsidy scheme. He wants us to backslide into primitivity for political convenience,” Shettima said.
“I dare to put forward that his skill set… he was trained in sanitation at the Kano School of Hygiene. So he doesn’t have the skill set to govern a modern economy. That’s a painful truth.”
Last Wednesday, APC National Secretary Ajibola Basiru also questioned Atiku’s professional background during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today. He argued that serving as vice-president did not automatically qualify Atiku as an economic expert.
“Atiku is not a professional, please, with respect to him. Atiku trained as a hygiene expert at the school of hygiene in Kano. He is a ‘Wole wole’ man and proceeded to being a tax collector in customs. Where is the expertise? What has he done? Check his profile,” Basiru said.
Meanwhile, Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication for the ADC presidential campaign council, had criticised Shettima’s remarks, arguing that personal attacks would not alleviate the economic hardship facing Nigerians.
The ADC campaign spokesperson challenged the vice-president to address allegations concerning Tinubu’s academic records instead of ridiculing Atiku over his educational background.