President Bola Tinubu has slammed former Vice President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, over the latter’s stance on restoring the fuel subsidy regime scrapped three years ago by the incumbent administration.
Speaking while receiving Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa in Abuja, President Tinubu, in a veiled reference to Atiku’s declaration, derided him as ignorant of governance and the economy.
Tinubu recalled that under the subsidy regime, governors were unable to pay salaries and meet other expectations of the people as they were always financially insolvent.
He equally made an allusion to his one-time political ally, a former Osun State governor and incumbent National Secretary of ADC, Rauf Aregbesola, whom Tinubu also recalled paid half salaries to workers during his tenure.
The president expressed delight that the removal of fuel subsidy has since changed the financial status of states for good.
He said, “Let’s look at the trajectory of the history. I saw one of my opponents now say he will go back to subsidy. I read it.
“That is demonstration of a serious ignorance on governance and economy.
“Before I came here, 27 states are unable to pay salaries, not to even talk of pensioners, salary of workers. In your state, I know a man that I raised who is nicknamed half salary.
“They came to the federal, cap in hand, unable to do anything. They were at the local governments. They were in the states.”
Tinubu argued that the direct beneficiaries of his economic reforms were ordinary Nigerians and their families, delivered through state and local government structures now able to fund basic obligations and infrastructure.
“Salary you pay for each family, they were at the local governments, they are in the states.
“Take out the president, we got every other person. Ask common men, their families, to feed, the infrastructure you embark upon on the road network, housing, school rehabilitation, hospital, healthcare pronouncements, resuscitation of healthcare, training of teachers, training of health workers to protect our vulnerable families. It’s part of your responsibility,” the President said.
Atiku had, while arguing that Nigerians have not seen sufficient benefits from the fuel subsidy removal, pledged to restore the former subsidy policy.
Speaking during an interview on Wednesday, the former Vice President questioned the whereabouts of funds generated following the decision by Tinubu to end the petrol subsidy in May 2023.
“I did not oppose the removal of the oil subsidy, but where is the money? Where did it go? It was intended to reduce poverty and help children attend school. Where is the money now? It seems they are just stealing it,” Atiku said in Hausa.
“If elected, I will bring back the oil subsidy, and whoever stole the money must refund it,” he declared.
