Presidency Warns: Atiku’s Victory In 2023 Would Have Spelled Economic Disaster For Nigeria

Dada Olusegun, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Social Media, stated that Nigeria would have found itself in a similar economic crisis as Argentina’s if Tinubu had heeded Atiku’s advice. Currently, Argentina is seeking a $20 billion bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which would push its total debt to the IMF to a staggering $41 billion, making it the world’s largest debtor to the organization.

Olusegun responded to Atiku’s February 25, 2024, statement in which he praised Milei’s economic reforms for reducing Argentina’s inflation. The former PDP presidential candidate had urged Tinubu to adopt Milei’s policies.

In a post on his X handle on Thursday, April 3, 2025, Olusegun argued that if Atiku had won the 2023 election, Nigeria would have faced a similar economic downfall. He pointed out that Argentina’s economy is now in severe crisis, with its public debt reaching unprecedented levels, while key sectors such as education, manufacturing, and construction are collapsing.

Olusegun further criticized Milei’s economic approach, likening it to “throwing a country’s strained economy into a washing machine and hoping it comes out ironed.” He emphasized that while Milei’s approach might seem exciting, it lacks a solid foundation—something President Tinubu has demonstrated in Nigeria’s economic reforms, which have already shown positive results such as stabilizing the Naira, growing foreign exchange reserves, increased investor confidence, and a booming stock market.

He concluded by asserting that had Atiku won, Nigeria might have descended into a crisis similar to Venezuela’s, urging that it was time to update outdated economic strategies.