2027: You wanted subsidy removed in 2023, now you want it back – Alfindiki to Atiku

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Faizu Alfindiki, has questioned former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar’s decision to promise the restoration of petrol subsidy if elected president in 2027.

Alfindiki said Atiku’s current position was at odds with his stance during the 2023 presidential election, when he reportedly advocated the removal of the subsidy within his first 100 days in office.

Recall that Atiku, who is now the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), recently said he would restore the petrol subsidy if elected in 2027.

He argued that Nigerians had not benefited enough from the savings generated by its removal.

But in a statement made available to journalists in Kano on Friday, Alfindiki said Nigerians had the right to question the former vice-president’s change of position.

“Today, Atiku is presenting subsidy restoration as a solution, whereas his position before the 2023 election was that subsidy should be removed. Nigerians are entitled to ask what has changed and why,” he said.

The APC chieftain acknowledged that Nigerians had faced significant hardship following the removal of the subsidy but argued that returning to the old system would create additional pressure on government finances.

He said the former subsidy regime had placed a heavy burden on public finances and created distortions in the petroleum market.

According to him, the removal of the subsidy was a difficult decision that should have been accompanied by measures to protect vulnerable Nigerians and improve domestic production.

Alfindiki said the current debate should not be limited to whether petrol subsidy should return but should focus on how to make petroleum products more affordable through increased local refining, better infrastructure and investment.

He also urged the Federal Government to account for the revenue and savings generated by the removal of the subsidy, saying Nigerians deserved to know how the funds were being used.

“President Tinubu should be held accountable for how the savings and additional revenues are used. That accountability is important. But accountability should not be confused with returning Nigeria to a system that was financially unsustainable,” he said.

Alfindiki challenged Atiku and other political leaders supporting subsidy restoration to explain how the policy would be financed without placing additional pressure on government finances.

He warned that restoring the subsidy could divert funds meant for critical sectors such as infrastructure, education and healthcare.

The APC chieftain said Nigeria needed policies that would strengthen local production, create jobs and reduce dependence on imported petroleum products rather than relying on subsidies to address economic challenges.

“Nigerians need a government that will build a productive economy, not one that simply promises to make difficult problems disappear through subsidies,” Alfindiki said.

He added that the country’s economic debate should be based on facts, transparency and long-term national interest rather than electoral rhetoric.