‘Subsidy removal is starvation, not reform’ — Vatsa backs Atiku, urges Tinubu to rethink policy
APC Chieftain Calls for Reassessment of Fuel Subsidy Removal
Niger State, Nigeria – Hon. Jonathan Vatsa, a prominent figure in the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Commissioner for Information, Culture, and Tourism, has endorsed former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s critique of the Federal Government’s decision to remove fuel subsidies. Vatsa is urging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to reevaluate the policy, which he claims has exacerbated poverty and hardship among Nigerians.
In a statement issued in Minna on Sunday, titled “Let’s Take Atiku’s Message and Leave the Messenger,” Vatsa emphasized the importance of addressing the substance of Atiku’s criticism rather than dismissing it due to political rivalry. “Even if you don’t like the messenger, you should at least take the message,” he said, adding that the subsidy removal had led to significant economic distress for many citizens.
Vatsa contended that the removal policy has disproportionately benefited state governors, their families, and political elites while failing to serve the interests of ordinary Nigerians. He asserted, “It has not in any way benefited the common masses on the street. It has further pushed low-income earners below the poverty level.”
The former commissioner expressed concern over the continued presence of incomplete infrastructure projects amid governors’ luxury spending, alleging that many have accrued debt while neglecting public needs. “There are no roads, no schools, and no hospitals. They acquire private jets and luxury cars, while government projects are left abandoned,” he claimed.
Vatsa characterized the subsidy removal as a form of economic starvation rather than genuine reform. He stated, “Nigerians can no longer breathe. Hardship has overwhelmed the people.” He pointed to how nations worldwide, including European countries following the Russia-Ukraine war, provide subsidies to cushion citizens from economic shocks.
Acknowledging existing corruption in Nigeria’s subsidy regime, Vatsa argued that the government should have targeted corruption rather than eliminating the subsidy entirely. “The problem with subsidy payment in Nigeria is the corruption attached to it, which one would have expected the president to address,” he said.
He also refuted claims that the subsidy removal was necessary for salary payments, highlighting that states still owe pensions despite increased allocations. “If only payment of salaries is the reason for the removal of fuel subsidy, then the government is ignorant of how to manage the economy,” Vatsa stated.
In conclusion, Vatsa called on President Tinubu to reverse the subsidy removal and apologize to Nigerians for the resulting hardships, reiterating the need to focus on the message conveyed by Atiku’s criticism, irrespective of the messenger’s identity.
