Yilwatda: Atiku’s plan to restore petrol subsidy driven by desperation for power

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, has criticised former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar over his promise to restore petrol subsidy if elected president in 2027.

Yilwatda described the proposal as an indication of “desperation for power”, arguing that reversing the subsidy removal without a sustainable alternative could expose the Nigerian economy to renewed fiscal pressure.

In a statement issued on Sunday by his media aide, Abimbola Tooki, the APC chairman questioned the timing of Atiku’s proposal, noting that the former vice-president had previously supported the removal of the subsidy.

Atiku, who is the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), recently said he would restore the petrol subsidy if elected in 2027.

Speaking in Hausa during an interview with an ADC media group, Atiku criticised the Tinubu administration for failing to adequately account for the funds saved from the removal of the subsidy.

He said the savings were expected to be used to reduce poverty and improve access to education.

Atiku also promised that those found to have misappropriated the funds would be made to refund the money.

The statement has since generated reactions, with critics pointing to Atiku’s previous position on petrol subsidy during the 2023 presidential campaign.

President Bola Tinubu also faulted the proposal, describing it as evidence of a lack of understanding of governance and economic realities.

Reacting to the development during a visit to the headquarters of the City Boy Movement in Abuja on Saturday, Yilwatda said Nigerians should demand more than election-season promises from politicians seeking to govern the country.

He argued that any proposal to reintroduce subsidy must be subjected to serious economic scrutiny, particularly given the financial burden the policy previously placed on government.

“Economic policy cannot be reduced to election-season promises,” Yilwatda said.

According to him, Nigerians deserve to know how a renewed subsidy regime would be funded, which sectors would bear the cost and whether the policy could be sustained without recreating the fiscal challenges that prompted its removal.

The APC chairman maintained that removing the subsidy was a difficult but necessary decision, stressing that the focus should now be on measures that cushion its effects, expand social intervention and boost productive sectors of the economy.

He said genuine leadership requires the courage to take difficult decisions and explain them honestly to citizens, rather than offering attractive promises for electoral advantage.

Yilwatda further questioned the opposition’s policy direction, saying politicians seeking power must present Nigerians with clear and workable alternatives rather than simply promising to reverse unpopular reforms.

Nigerians Must Scrutinise Economic Plans

The APC chairman also called on Nigerians to examine the policy records and political consistency of presidential aspirants ahead of the 2027 elections.

He criticised what he described as ideological and organisational inconsistencies within the opposition, arguing that politicians who frequently move between political platforms may struggle to provide the stability needed to govern a complex country.

Yilwatda said President Tinubu had remained within the progressive political tradition throughout his political career, except during periods of political mergers, while Vice-President Kashim Shettima had also maintained a consistent political trajectory.

He defended the Tinubu administration’s economic reforms, saying the government was taking steps to attract investment, strengthen domestic production and reduce dependence on unsustainable government interventions.

According to him, abruptly reversing the reforms without a credible alternative could weaken investor confidence and deepen pressure on government finances.

He therefore urged voters to look beyond campaign promises and examine the feasibility of the economic programmes being presented by those seeking the presidency.

Yilwatda also called for greater scrutiny of the records of political actors, including past controversies involving Atiku and former President Olusegun Obasanjo, particularly allegations relating to the privatisation exercise conducted during the Obasanjo administration.

He said accountability and economic governance should remain central issues in the 2027 election.

According to the APC chairman, the election should ultimately be about ideas, competence and credible alternatives rather than promises designed to provide short-term political appeal while creating long-term economic problems.