The African Democratic Congress, ADC, presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, on Saturday, assured that he is not opposed to the education of poor children.
Atiku made this known through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu via X.
Shaibu said Atiku only opposes turning education into a debt trap after the government first allowed fees to skyrocket.
He was reacting to President Bola Tinubu’s Special Assistant on Social Media, Dada Olusegun’s remark that Atiku hates NELFUND and wants it cancelled
Posting on X, Dada claimed that the former vice president does not believe that the child of a nobody should have access to education.
Dada wrote: “Mr @atiku hates NELFUND and wants to cancel it because he does not believe the children of thr poor should have access to education.”
Responding, Shaibu wrote: “@DOlusegun, this is simply dishonest. Atiku does not oppose education for poor children. He opposes turning education into a debt trap after the government first allowed fees to skyrocket.
“Imagine a widow selling food by the roadside to send her daughter to university. The government raises the fees beyond what she can afford, then tells the daughter to borrow the money and begin adult life in debt.”
Shaibu insisted that the former vice president wants education to be affordable for all Nigerians.
He noted that Atiku wants the children of the poor to become graduates without amassing so much debt.
“That is not compassion. Atiku’s position is clear: make education affordable again, restore scholarships and grants, and ensure that a child’s future does not begin with a loan burden.
“The child of nobody should not only enter school, that child should be able to graduate without being buried in debt,” he added.
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