Eniola Yekini
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike has taken it up with the former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, over his comments on fuel subsidy, describing him as a “ voodoo economist”.
Recall that Abubakar, who is also the Presidential Candidate of African Democratic Congress ( ADC) for the 2027 election, was quoted by some media reports to have said that he would restore the controversial fuel subsidy, if elected president.
“ Atiku, who is confused, who acts like a voodoo economist, Atiku will say anything just to be president”, Wike said.
The Minister spoke in Abuja, after inspecting some road projects. He said that the former VP has been inconsistent on the federal government’s fuel subsidy policy.
Apart from the Minister’s reaction to Abubakar’s subsidy comments, he also reiterated his opinion, insisting that no opposition party can dislodge President Bola Tinubu from the Presidential villa, come 2027.
According to Wike, political opposition is not defined merely by political parties fielding candidates, but by a cohesive front committed to offering genuine alternatives.
“They have only one leading candidate, and that’s Bola Ahmed Tinubu. I have told people this would be the easiest election,
“I say so because we have no opposition. No opposition is united to say, ‘Really, we want to remove this government in power.’
“That’s why I say that 2027 is gone, it’s gone because you don’t have an opposition that wants to wrestle power from the government,” he stated.
Wike further critiqued Atiku’s leadership integrity and policy proposals, questioning the former Vice President’s changing statements regarding economic reforms and the energy sector.
“This was a man in 2022 who said he was going to remove the fuel subsidy because it was a fraud.
“Now, in 2026, he says he is not going to remove the fuel subsidy. Is he going back to the fraud which he alleged that fuel subsidy was?” Wike said.