‘Sanitary Inspector Disguising as Economist’ — Keyamo Takes Dig at Atiku

Festus Keyamo, minister of aviation and aerospace development, has taken a fresh dig at former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar over his recent criticism of President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms.

In a terse post on X on Thursday, Keyamo questioned Atiku’s competence on economic matters, describing him as a “sanitary inspector disguising as an economist”.

Early in his education, Atiku obtained a diploma from the Kano School of Hygiene, an institution associated with public health and sanitation training.

The qualification is widely understood as vocational training in hygiene and environmental sanitation, not the equivalent of a university degree in economics, finance or public administration, for instance.

In recent weeks, Vice-President Kashim Shettima and other chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have cited Atiku’s background at the Kano hygiene college as a limitation in his bid to govern Nigeria.

Shettima first referred to Atiku’s sanitation background on October 14, while speaking at 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 cautioned Nigerians against listening to opposition politicians, whom he described as “voodoo economists” who lack an understanding of the dynamics of a modern economy.

Shettima returned to the subject on Monday at the 32nd Nigerian Economic Summit in Abuja, saying the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate lacks the skill set to govern a modern economy.

He was reacting to Atiku’s pledge to restore petrol subsidy if elected president. Shettima argued that the proposal would drag 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, on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Ajibola Basiru, APC national secretary, also questioned Atiku’s professional background. He argued that Atiku’s stint as vice-president did not automatically make him 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.

Phrank Shaibu, director of strategic communication of the ADC presidential campaign council, had hit back at Shettima, saying personal attacks would not ease the economic hardship confronting Nigerians.

The ADC presidential campaign council spokesperson challenged the vice-president to address allegations concerning Tinubu’s academic records rather than ridicule Atiku over his educational background.