Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, former Vice President and Presidential Candidate of the African Democratic Congress(ADC), has said that reinstating fuel subsidy would depend on the situation on ground when he becomes President.
Abubakar, who stated this in a BBC interview monitored by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), opined that it was “not good” to remove the entire subsidy at the same time.
The ADC candidate’s new position on the matter represents a significant shift from his initial promise to restore full subsidy immediately he is sworn in, if he clinches the presidential seat in the 2027 election.
He said that a 100 per cent “sudden withdrawal” of fuel subsidy was not right, and opined that such a measure should rather be gradual.
He also stressed the need for consultation before such a decision could be taken.
“We shall meet with the people and examine the situation together. It shall be gradual. Certainly not 100 per cent as done by the current administration,” he said.
According to him, a sudden reinstatement will be like jumping into darkness because “one does not know the facts on the ground”.
He rejected suggestions that he was only seeking to take advantage of Nigerians’ poverty to curry votes.
“It is not just about seeking votes. Talking about reviewing the subsidy removal is not a desperate search for votes. I am concerned and actually out to reduce Nigerians’ sufferings to the barest minimum,” he said.
Abubakar said he had met with some economists on the subsidy withdrawal and the general opinion was that the measure had not benefitted the poor people much.
“My feeling is that the Federal Government should have invested money realised from subsidy removal to improve the welfare and well-being of the people.
“It should also have been invested into security to tackle insurgency and other crimes plaguing the country.
“In contrast, security hasn’t improved. There is unemployment. There is poverty which is not good for a country like Nigeria with vast resources,” he said.
Abubakar blamed Nigeria’s insecurity on poor handling, and promised to end the menace if he became president.
He said that the population of Nigeria’s security personnel was inadequate, and promised to beef up the armed forces, the police and other security outfits, if given the opportunity to serve.
Abubakar said that Nigeria had a total of about 200,000 security men to take care of its more than 200 million people, stating that such was a far cry from the more than one million security personnel engaged to protect Egypt’s 80 million population.
He also blamed the worsening security situation on bandits invading Nigeria from neighbouring African countries, and promised to tackle such invasions if elected.
Abubakar also stated why he had continued to contest for the nation’s top seat.
“I keep seeking to lead Nigeria because I feel things are not right. It is even my constitutional right to do so.
“My eye is still on that goal because I have the energy, experience, competence and patriotism. I also believe that I have something to offer. Besides, I am strong, agile and healthy,” he said.
Abubakar also spoke on the opposition’s strategy ahead of the polls, and hinted of a possible consensus candidate.
“We are still talking to ourselves. At the right time, we shall take the right step toward working together,” he said.
