Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Atiku Abubakar, has disowned comments by one of his media aides, Paul Ibe, on fuel subsidy, insisting that his position on the matter remains unchanged.
Atiku said he would restore subsidy if elected president in 2027, stressing that Nigeria was wealthy enough to provide relief for its citizens.
He spoke on Tuesday when he received the Osun State leadership of the ADC in Abuja.
The former vice president was reacting to comments by Ibe during an interview on the African Independent Television, AIT, in which the aide said Atiku would restore petrol subsidy if elected but gradually phase out the intervention after the economy recovered.
Atiku said Ibe was not speaking on his authority, stressing that his own position was to restore subsidy.
“Earlier, one of my press aides contradicted me in a policy statement as far as subsidy is concerned.
“I want to repeat categorically that when I said I would return to subsidy, I will! Nigeria is rich enough to look after the welfare of its citizens. Let it be clearly stated that he was not speaking on my own authority,” Atiku said.
In a statement posted on his X platform, Atiku further explained his position, saying the objective of restoring targeted subsidy was to cushion the impact of rising fuel, transportation and food costs on Nigerians.
“On the question of subsidy, my position has not changed and will not change: I will restore it!” he said.
According to him, the wealth of a nation should not be measured only by the amount of money government collects, but also by the purchasing power of its citizens.
“I believe the wealth of a nation is not measured by how much government collects, but by how much the money in the pockets of its people can buy,” he said.
Atiku said he wanted wages to regain their value, while farmers should be able to transport their produce without transportation costs eroding their profits.
He also promised to support businesses to produce, employ workers and expand, while making food and other essential commodities more affordable for families.
“That is why I will restore targeted subsidy and put purchasing power back in the hands of Nigerians,” he said.
Atiku linked increases in petrol prices to higher transportation and food costs, saying the development had placed additional pressure on households.
“When fuel rises, transport rises. When transport rises, food rises. When food rises, families suffer,” he said.
He said he would seek to break what he described as a cycle of rising costs that had characterised the nearly four years of the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
“I will break that wretched chain that has defined our national life in the nearly four years of Tinubu’s presidency,” Atiku said.
The ADC candidate said his proposed policy would focus on supporting local production, reducing energy costs and restoring purchasing power.
“I will not restore the import racket; I will restore relief,” he said.
Atiku added that his broader agenda would focus on economic and physical security as well as improving living conditions for Nigerians.
“I will make the naira in your pocket worth more, make daily living affordable again, and secure our people.
“Economic security. Physical security. A better life for every Nigerian. “That is the Nigeria I intend to build,” he said.
