Presidency Critiques Atiku's Conflicting Subsidy Statements

The Presidency has accused Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), of politicizing the temporary discomfort Nigerians are experiencing due to the removal of the fuel subsidy. This accusation follows conflicting statements from Atiku's media aides.

Paul Ibe, one of Atiku's spokespersons, initially claimed that a petrol subsidy would be restored and later phased out if Atiku won the upcoming general election. However, Phrank Shaibu, another aide, refuted this, stating that Atiku has never proposed restoring the subsidy and emphasized that it would remain until domestic refining improves and market conditions stabilize.

Atiku later intervened, asserting that his position had not changed and that he would implement a "targeted subsidy." Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President, remarked that the inconsistencies in Atiku's aides' statements reflect serious policy contradictions and questioned Atiku's understanding of the petroleum market dynamics.