Atiku's Subsidy Stance Change Defended Amid Presidential Criticism

Paul Ibe, media adviser to former Nigerian Vice President Atiku Abubakar, defended his principal's shift in position regarding the petrol subsidy. Ibe argued that a leader must be prepared to reconsider policies that inflict hardship on citizens, stating, "Leadership and heartlessness should never go together."

Abubakar, the presidential candidate for the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the 2027 election, recently pledged to restore the petrol subsidy if elected. He questioned the deployment of funds saved from the subsidy's removal and expressed concern over the economic pressure Nigerians face. "If I win the presidential election, I will restore the subsidy. And anyone who stole Nigeria’s subsidy funds must return the money," Abubakar declared during a Facebook Live session.

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Leadership and heartlessness should never go together.

This proposal has reignited a dispute with the presidency. President Bola Tinubu's Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, accused Abubakar of abandoning his previous economic stance for political gain. Onanuga called a return to subsidies "retrogressive and fiscally unsustainable" and disputed claims of significant savings from the removal, arguing the previous system burdened the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited.

Ibe acknowledged Abubakar's initial support for subsidy removal but asserted that changing a policy based on observed consequences should not be labeled hypocrisy. He emphasized that the critical factor is whether the policy has improved the lives of ordinary Nigerians, suggesting that a responsible leader adapts to evolving circumstances and their impact on the populace.

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If I win the presidential election, I will restore the subsidy. And anyone who stole Nigeria’s subsidy funds must return the money.