The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, has criticised former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar’s proposal to reverse the removal of petrol subsidy if elected president in 2027.
Yilwatda described the proposal as a major policy reversal that raised questions about the opposition’s preparedness to govern Nigeria.
He made the comments in a statement issued in Abuja on Monday by his Special Adviser on Media and Information Strategy, Abimbola Tooki.
Yilwatda questions funding for subsidy restoration
According to the APC chairman, Nigerians deserve detailed explanations about how a restored subsidy regime would be financed and sustained.
He argued that subsidies had previously placed significant pressure on government finances while creating distortions within the economy.
Yilwatda said economic policies should not be reduced to promises made during election campaigns, particularly when such policies could have major consequences for public finances.
“Economic policy cannot be reduced to election-season promises. Nigerians deserve to know precisely where the money will come from.”
He questioned what sectors would bear the cost of restoring the subsidy and whether the policy could be sustained without recreating the fiscal difficulties that prompted the reform.
APC defends Tinubu’s subsidy policy
The APC national chairman described the removal of petrol subsidy as a difficult but necessary decision by President Bola Tinubu.
He acknowledged that the policy had imposed hardship on Nigerians but argued that its impact should be addressed through social interventions and measures aimed at strengthening productive sectors.
Yilwatda maintained that effective leadership involved taking difficult decisions while explaining them to citizens and implementing measures capable of delivering sustainable economic growth.
He warned that reversing existing reforms without providing a credible alternative could weaken investor confidence and increase pressure on government finances.
2027 election should focus on policies, APC says
Yilwatda urged Nigerians to carefully examine the economic programmes of presidential candidates ahead of the 2027 election.
He said voters should distinguish between policies designed to address Nigeria’s structural challenges and proposals intended primarily to provide short-term political appeal.
The APC chairman also criticised what he described as a lack of ideological and organisational consistency within the opposition, arguing that frequent movement between political platforms could raise questions about political stability.
He cited Tinubu and Vice-President Kashim Shettima as examples of politicians who, according to him, had maintained relatively consistent political trajectories.
Yilwatda said the Tinubu administration was implementing measures aimed at increasing domestic production, attracting investment and reducing reliance on unsustainable government interventions.
He maintained that the APC would continue defending policies aimed at creating a productive and investment-friendly economy while remaining open to credible alternatives.
Yilwatda urges scrutiny of presidential candidates
The APC chairman called on Nigerians to assess the records, policy positions and economic plans of all those seeking the presidency in 2027.
He said the election should be based on competing ideas, competence and realistic policy alternatives rather than promises designed to exploit economic frustrations.
Yilwatda also urged voters to examine past controversies surrounding political figures and issues of economic governance and accountability.
He said the 2027 presidential election should ultimately be a contest between competing visions for Nigeria’s future.
