Eniola Yekini
Former Vice President and candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the forthcoming 2027 presidential election, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has told President Bola Tinubu not to hesitate to adopt his proposal on fuel subsidy .
Atiku, at a press conference in Abuja on Friday, advised President Tinubu to use the remaining eight months left in his administration to give Nigerians relief.
He told the president to take his idea and rename it if he wishes, provided that he lowers the price of petrol.
“What matters to me is that Nigerians pay less,” he said, adding, “a sensible idea does not become a bad idea because it came from your opponent.”
The ADC candidate told President that he is prepared to compete with you politically, but will not compete with the welfare of the Nigerian people.
“The presidency may be contested. The wellbeing of Nigerians should never be.
“If elected, from May 29, 2027, I will introduce a transparent production subsidy for petroleum products refined in Nigeria and sold to Nigerians,” Atiku stated.
He told Tinubu that palliatives cannot be a substitute for sound economic policy, and warned against the planned removal of the electricity subsidy by the Federal Government next year.
“The lesson of petrol must not be repeated with electricity,” he warned, adding, “Do not make life unbearable and then distribute bags of rice as evidence of compassion.
“Do not remove first and think later. Do not impose the pain first and search for palliatives afterwards.
“Nigerians do not need another elaborate palliative ceremony.”
The ADC candidate noted that electricity is already expensive, stating that manufacturers are spending enormous amounts on electricity, diesel and alternative power simply to keep their factories running.
“When energy becomes unaffordable, everything becomes unaffordable,” he said.
Atiku reiterated that President Tinubu should use the remaining eight months of his administration to reduce the burden on Nigerians, and promised to offer policy ideas or technical input on how to bring relief.
“Our production subsidy will work the same way: government support must bring prices down. Only products confirmed to be refined in Nigeria will qualify. Imported products will not.
The programme will have a fixed spending limit, National Assembly approval and independent audits,” he assured.