Atiku’s position on subsidy puts Tinubu under pressure – ADC chieftain

Nigerian activist and member of the African Democratic Congress, Austin Okai, has said former Vice President and the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has placed the President Bola Tinubu-led government under fresh political and economic pressure with his position on the possible restoration of fuel subsidy.

Okai said Atiku’s intervention had reopened a contentious national debate over the government’s decision to remove the subsidy, while also raising questions about the management of the savings reportedly generated from the policy.

In a statement issued on Monday in Abuja, the ADC stakeholder said the controversy was not merely about whether fuel subsidy should be restored, but also about accountability, transparency and the impact of the policy on Nigerians.

“Atiku has dealt a significant political blow to the Tinubu administration by reopening the conversation on fuel subsidy. The question Nigerians are asking is simple: if subsidy was removed and the government has consistently spoken about the enormous savings generated, where exactly have those savings gone?” he said.

According to him, the responses from the Presidency, ministers and other government officials to Atiku’s position underscored the political sensitivity of the issue.

“Tinubu has responded. Ministers are responding. Presidential aides are reacting. This level of response shows that the issue has touched a very important political and economic nerve within the administration,” Okai added.

He challenged the Federal Government to provide Nigerians with a comprehensive account of the financial gains from subsidy removal, including the amount saved, how the funds had been deployed and the specific projects and programmes financed with the savings.

Okai said Nigerians should be able to see tangible benefits from the policy, particularly against the backdrop of rising fuel prices and the increasing cost of living.

“The Nigerian people are not asking for propaganda. They are asking for accountability. They want to know what happened to the money saved from subsidy removal and why, despite the promised benefits, millions of Nigerians are still struggling with unprecedented economic hardship,” he stated.

He argued that the debate over the future of fuel subsidy should be guided by economic realities and the welfare of Nigerians rather than partisan considerations.

“Whether subsidy should be restored, redesigned or permanently removed is a matter that must be determined by sound economic reasoning, transparency and the welfare of the people. Nigerians deserve a policy that reduces hardship, protects vulnerable citizens and strengthens the economy,” he added.

He urged the Tinubu administration to publish a transparent account of the savings from subsidy removal and how they had been utilised, insisting that accountability should precede any further demand for sacrifices from Nigerians.

He also called on citizens to closely monitor the emerging debate, describing it as a test of the administration’s commitment to transparency, economic responsibility and the welfare of the people.