“From Criticism to Praise: El-Rufai Lauds Atiku’s Economic Impact”
Nasir El-Rufai, the former governor of Kaduna State, has acknowledged the significant role played by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar in shaping Nigeria’s economic policies during President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration. El-Rufai, who headed the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) at the time, said Atiku deserved greater recognition for overseeing the privatization of national assets, an essential part of the economic reforms carried out during that era.
El-Rufai made the comments during a condolence visit to the family of the late Chief Edwin Clark, a prominent Niger Delta advocate and elder statesman who passed away on February 17. While reflecting on Atiku’s contributions to economic policy-making, El-Rufai noted that the former vice president had been instrumental in driving many of the policies, despite not receiving the credit he deserved.
“Nobody gives Alhaji Atiku Abubakar the credit for economic policy-making under the Obasanjo administration. Many of the things we did, we did under his leadership,” El-Rufai remarked. He further explained that history tends to overlook such contributions, often focusing only on the negative aspects, which he said was a natural human tendency.
This statement from El-Rufai represents a striking shift from his previous criticisms of Atiku. Back in 2016, El-Rufai had accused the former vice president of spreading falsehoods and even suggested Atiku was plagued by “demons of corruption.”
Atiku, in turn, shared a video of the condolence visit on X, highlighting El-Rufai’s presence and praising Clark’s legacy. In his message, Atiku expressed his condolences to Clark’s family and emphasized the importance of promoting unity and inclusiveness, values that Clark fought for throughout his life.
“Atiku led the delegation, which included the former Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, to visit the family of the late Edwin Clark. I prayed for comfort for the family and reminded them that Clark’s passing is a loss not only to his family and the Niger Delta but to all of Nigeria,” Atiku said. “The best way to immortalize him is for our leaders to promote unity and inclusiveness for which he lived and died for. May his soul continue to rest in peace.”
