The Presidency has criticised former Vice President Atiku Abubakar for promising to restore petrol subsidy if elected president in 2027, describing the proposal as deceptive and potentially harmful to Nigeria’s economic recovery.
The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, made the comments in a statement on Thursday in reaction to Atiku’s recent pledge.
Dare accused the former vice president of using the subsidy issue to win public support ahead of the 2027 election, arguing that reversing the policy could undermine the economic gains recorded by the current administration.
“Atiku Abubakar: Your pronouncement that you will bring back fuel subsidy is drenched in hypocrisy and deceit. It is an unpardonable manipulation of the public psyche, designed to hoodwink unsuspecting Nigerians into voting for you,” Dare said.
He added, “The ongoing recovery across various sectors of our national life annoys you, and will be halted if this thinking of yours is implemented. By the Grace of God, it will not happen, and all good men of conscience must rise up against you.”
Atiku made his pledge during a Facebook Live session while discussing the removal of petrol subsidy and the government’s handling of the funds previously spent on the policy.
He said he had not initially opposed the decision to remove the subsidy but questioned whether the resulting savings had been properly utilised.
“I initially did not oppose the removal of the fuel subsidy. But now that it has been removed, where is the money? Where has the subsidy money gone? Has it been used to improve healthcare, education or security?” Atiku asked.
The former vice president then said he would reverse the policy if he emerged victorious in the 2027 presidential election.
“If I win the presidential election, I will restore the subsidy. And anyone who stole Nigeria’s subsidy funds must return the money,” he said.
Atiku’s position has also attracted criticism from the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, who questioned the former vice president’s consistency on the matter.
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Wike described Atiku as a “voodoo economist”, accusing him of changing his position on subsidy removal for political reasons.
“For Atiku, who is confused is a voodoo economist. Atiku will say anything just to be president,” Wike said.
The FCT minister recalled Atiku’s previous position on subsidy removal, arguing that his latest promise contradicted his earlier stance.
“This was a man in 2022 that was going to remove the fuel subsidy because it was a fraud. Now in 2026, he was not going to remove the fuel subsidy. Is he going back to the fraud?” Wike said.
Wike maintained that politicians should be consistent when discussing major economic policies, particularly those that directly affect the lives and finances of Nigerians.