By Blessing Fali
Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, Atiku Abubakar, has disowned comments by his media aide, Paul Ibe, on fuel subsidy, insisting that he will restore the subsidy if elected president in 2027.
Atiku made the clarification on Tuesday while receiving the Osun State leadership of the ADC in Abuja. He said his position on subsidy had not changed and that Ibe was not speaking on his authority.
Ibe had earlier stated during a television interview that Atiku would restore fuel subsidy temporarily before gradually phasing it out. Atiku, however, rejected the position, stressing that he would restore targeted subsidy to reduce the financial burden on Nigerians.
He argued that Nigeria was rich enough to support its citizens and said the removal of subsidy had contributed to higher transportation and food costs.
Atiku said his proposed policy would focus on supporting domestic production, reducing energy costs and restoring the purchasing power of Nigerians. He also stressed that he would not return to what he described as the import subsidy system.
The ADC candidate has previously said he would restore petrol subsidy if elected in 2027, arguing that the government had failed to adequately account for the benefits of subsidy removal.
His position has already attracted criticism from groups that questioned the financial sustainability and economic implications of returning to subsidy.
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