Subsidy Removal: Atiku disowns aide, says ‘my position has not changed’
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, has distanced himself from recent comments made by his media aide, Paul Ibe, regarding Nigeria’s fuel subsidy. Atiku emphasized that his stance on the issue remains firm: he intends to restore the subsidy if elected president in 2027.
During a meeting on Tuesday with the Osun State leadership of the ADC in Abuja, Atiku responded to Ibe’s remarks from a recent interview on African Independent Television, in which Ibe suggested that while Atiku would restart the petrol subsidy, it would be gradually phased out once the economy stabilized.
“I want to repeat categorically that when I said I would return to subsidy, I will,” Atiku said. He asserted that Nigeria possesses enough resources to support its citizens’ welfare and clarified that Ibe was not authorized to speak on his behalf.
In a statement shared on his X platform, Atiku reiterated his commitment to restoring a targeted fuel subsidy aimed at alleviating the financial burden of rising fuel, transportation, and food costs on the populace. “My position has not changed and will not change: I will restore it,” he affirmed.
He explained that a nation’s wealth should not merely be measured by government revenue but also by the purchasing power of its citizens. “I believe the wealth of a nation is not measured by how much government collects, but by how much the money in the pockets of its people can buy,” he stated.
Atiku further asserted the importance of restoring wages to their value, enabling farmers to transport their goods without incurring prohibitive costs, and supporting businesses to grow and create jobs. He emphasized that his planned subsidy restoration would return purchasing power to Nigerians.
Atiku linked the surge in petrol prices to corresponding increases in transportation and food costs, which he noted have placed further strain on households. He expressed his intent to disrupt what he termed “a cycle of rising costs” that has characterized the administration of President Bola Tinubu over the past four years.
In closing, Atiku outlined a broader policy agenda centered on bolstering local production, reducing energy costs, and enhancing purchasing power. He underscored his commitment to improving economic and physical security while enhancing living conditions for Nigerians.
“I will make the naira in your pocket worth more, make daily living affordable again, and secure our people. Economic security. Physical security. A better life for every Nigerian. That is the Nigeria I intend to build,” he concluded.
