..Says Nigerians cannot afford to wait until 2027 for relief
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over his rejection of proposals aimed at reducing energy costs, saying millions of Nigerians are struggling to afford basic necessities after years of economic hardship.
Atiku, through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, said the debate should not be framed as a personal contest between him and the President but around the worsening cost of living confronting Nigerians.
Shaibu stated this in a statement issued on Tuesday titled, “Tinubu, the issue is not Atiku — it is why Nigerians can no longer afford to live.”
He said Atiku would not engage Tinubu in a personal exchange but would continue to advocate policies capable of reducing the financial burden on households and businesses.
According to him, the impact of the economic crisis is being felt by workers, farmers, students and families struggling to meet their daily needs.
“Atiku has more important people to engage directly: the mother struggling to feed her children; the civil servant whose salary disappears into transportation; the farmer paying more to move produce to market; the student being pushed into debt simply to remain in school; and millions of Nigerians whose daily reality bears no resemblance to the prosperity advertised in your tweets,” he said.
The statement followed recent remarks by Tinubu on economic policy, in which the President criticised Atiku’s proposals to reduce energy costs and rejected any return to the era of fuel subsidy.
Shaibu questioned why the administration was only now emphasising cheaper transportation, increased food production and support for vulnerable Nigerians after what he described as more than three years of economic hardship.
“Why did Nigerians have to suffer for more than three years before your government discovered that economic growth must reach ‘the dining table and the pocket’? Why is intervention backwards when Atiku proposes it, but progressive when you announce it?” he asked.
Atiku argued that reducing energy costs would have a broader effect on the economy by lowering transportation and production expenses, with the potential to moderate the prices of food and other essential commodities.
The statement said the Atiku Economic Recovery Plan would introduce targeted support for Nigerian crude supplied to domestic refineries under a capped and transparently budgeted framework.
The proposal, it said, would include mechanisms for tracking crude supplied to refineries, monitoring refined petroleum products and ensuring that savings are passed on to consumers.
“The economics is straightforward. Reduce fuel costs, and you reduce pressure on transportation. Reduce transportation costs, and you reduce the cost of moving tomatoes, rice, yam, livestock and manufactured goods,” Shaibu said.
The former Vice President’s position comes amid continued political debate over the impact of the Federal Government’s economic reforms and the measures required to reduce the cost of living ahead of the 2027 general elections.
