₦airaland Forum

Presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has publicly disowned comments made by one of his media aides and reaffirmed his commitment to restore fuel subsidy if elected president in the 2027 general election.

“Earlier, one of my Press Aides contradicted me in a policy statement as far as subsidy is concerned. I want to repeat categorically that when I said I would return to Subsidy, I will! Nigeria is rich enough to look after the welfare of its citizens. Let it be clearly stated that… pic.twitter.com/GNSSLsPNEB

— Royalty E. Uso (@royaltyuso) August 25, 2026

The former Vice President made the clarification while addressing party leaders in Abuja, insisting that his position on subsidy had not changed despite recent remarks credited to his aide, Paul Ibe.

According to Atiku, any suggestion that subsidy would only be temporarily restored did not reflect his official position.

“Earlier, one of my press aides contradicted me in a policy statement as far as subsidy is concerned. I want to repeat categorically that when I said I would return to subsidy, I will,” Atiku stated.

The controversy began after Paul Ibe reportedly suggested that an Atiku administration would restore fuel subsidy but later phase it out as the economy recovered. The comments sparked widespread debate and criticism from political opponents.

However, Atiku moved quickly to distance himself from the statement, stressing that policy decisions belong to him and not his spokespersons.

The ADC candidate argued that Nigeria possesses enough resources to protect citizens from economic hardship and insisted that the removal of subsidy has worsened the cost of living for millions of Nigerians.

He said his proposed subsidy framework would differ from previous arrangements, describing it as a targeted intervention aimed at supporting domestic refining, lowering production costs and reducing the burden on ordinary Nigerians.

Atiku also accused the current administration of failing to adequately explain how savings from subsidy removal have been utilised since the policy was scrapped in 2023.

The announcement has triggered fresh political debate because Atiku had previously supported the removal of fuel subsidy during past election campaigns and public policy discussions. Critics, including members of the Tinubu administration, have described his latest position as a major policy reversal.

The Presidency has already attacked the proposal, describing it as economically unsustainable and a return to policies that contributed to corruption and waste in the petroleum sector.

Despite the criticism, Atiku maintains that subsidy restoration remains a key component of his economic agenda, arguing that government policies should focus on easing hardship and restoring purchasing power to Nigerians.

With less than a year before the 2027 presidential election, the debate over fuel subsidy is shaping up to become one of the defining issues of the campaign season, as candidates battle to convince voters they have the best solution to Nigeria’s economic challenges.

Source: https://yaroinsider.ng/atiku-disowns-aide-subsidy/

Atiku will soon disown himself

When you confused yourself. You made the work of your spokes person difficult.

There will be a lot of shalaye

Returning subsidy is a key component of his economic Agenda. This is when you are confident of your ability to pull the wool over someone's eyes.

Who are you looking after and with which economy? Do you think we are your almajiris sitting by your door-step in the North that you do hand off to every morning and do rankadede? Food is no longer our problem. We want a vibrant economy and technology that can make us compete with youths in other parts of the world like China, Egypt, Israel, UK , America and so on. Why not start your so called subsidized experiment in Adamawa State so that the whole world can see? You are only this desperate because this might be your last shot at the presidency. At this rate you can even promise no work for anyone to become president.

Make Atiku rest, even Northern leaders will not vote Atiku, He will sell all tangible assets of the country to friends and cronies.

Ask about him when he was DCG customs. What about privatization of Nigeria assets.

He will even use our reserve to buy another country and name it ATIKU

I will surely Vote Atiku. Let subsidy return.

Let every Nigerian benefits from the government. Hardship is becoming alarming.

Naira is at the weakest, Yet one man said the economy is stable. Propaganda will keee dem

He knows he's lying and he knows many are gullible.

He was for subsidy removal for 10 years but few months to election he now wants to bring it back because he thinks saying so will win him votes from people who don't ask questions.

Every president has tried to remove this subsidy until Buhari removed it from budget as he was about to leave office and Tinubu confirmed he will follow through

Goodluck Mr Atiku

Keep dreaming. Talk for yourself.
The Northerners are trigger ready to support anyone who will reduce cost of Living for them

lamentor78:
Make Atiku rest, even Northern leaders will not vote Atiku, He will sell all tangible assets of the country to friends and cronies.

Ask about him when he was DCG customs. What about privatization of Nigeria assets.

He will even use our reserve to buy another country and name it ATIKU

Baba, give date. This format don cast. You already started excuses, wetin be "You do not remove scaffolding because the calendar says so. You remove it when the building can stand securely on its own.”
Is that the kind of parables you want to be telling when you grab and snatch it?

Nigerians, rejoice and make merry! Subsidy is coming!

Sai Baba Atiku 🙌,
Aso Villa Bandit go confirm am

Seems Atiku is a big fan of my comments.

He doesn’t need to disown them, he needs to sack all of them including his media aides.

They are too dumb for what he is up against.

He should learn from His Excellency, President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR). He has a squad of intellectuals around him who are combat ready in every online space.

But it comes at a price. $$$ as I was told.

i hope this man knows exactly what he is talking about sha?

It has not cast.
Omoh but date is important sha . I can't wait to cook soup with 2k abeg. My transportation to work will reduce from 60k to 20k. Joy is coming.
Atiku is coming

Image123:
Baba, give date. This format don cast. You already started excuses, wetin be "You do not remove scaffolding because the calendar says so. You remove it when the building can stand securely on its own.”
Is that the kind of parables you want to be telling when you grab and snatch it?

Greatex90:
It has not cast. Omoh but date is important sha. I can't wait to cook soup with 2k abeg. Omoh my transportation f

Story. Have you ever heard of yahoo grandpa?

Confusion in the midst of enemies. No coordination, no strategy, no sense. They are just hungry for power.

lamentor78:
Make Atiku rest, even Northern leaders will not vote Atiku, He will sell all tangible assets of the country to friends and cronies.

Ask about him when he was DCG customs. What about privatization of Nigeria assets.

He will even use our reserve to buy another country and name it ATIKU

Atiku is a confused person.

I don't think he and his supporters have read through the Petroleum Industry Act.

I want to believe that Atiku is ready to fight dirty inside the mod in this election bcoz it's his last. He's ready to throw up anything to curry votes even though they're not implementable.

Atiku outburst is capable of causing distortion in the oil sector and discouraged investors who had left Nigeria before Tinubu brought them back. A regulated oil sector is a no no to a reasonable investor.

Atiku please don't encourage the return of Queue at fuel stations.

Atiku no too smart. If you’re trying to play propaganda of this sort, you wait till few weeks to election so the other party won’t be able to water the effect down.

Now he will be on defense all through the remaining months until election.

rhythyson:
i hope this man knows exactly what he is talking about sha?

Of course he does. Even almighty America subsidises fuel production. Why shouldn't a third world albeit oil-producing country like Nigeria do the same? Between struggling Nigerians and the US citizens, who needs subsidy more?

yaroinside:
Source: https://yaroinsider.ng/atiku-disowns-aide-subsidy/

I agree with this statement sir, cos Subsidy is our right, if not for lack of electricity the ordinary man has nothing to do with petrol or Diesel. In the west, those who do not drive don't know pump price. But thank God for Solar, there will soon be an Equilibrium btw the cost of solar and PHCN then we go know the real losers.Th FG has issued free flow for all states to generate thier own power yet almost all the governors dey behave as if say them no see the policy and they got the gutts to still blame FG when it comes to power.

Confusion in dubai paradise

AMINDA:
Of course he does. Even almighty America subsidises fuel production. Why shouldn't a third world albeit oil-producing country like Nigeria do the same.

Dont mind them, they even support renewable Energy source ie pay you back via points.

Read your statement again 😃
Subsidy is coming.
Nigerians will be Ok

helinues:
Atiku will soon disown himself

LegendHero:
Atiku no too smart. If you’re trying to play propaganda of this sort, you wait till few weeks to election so the other party won’t be able to water the effect down.

Now he will be on defense all through the remaining months until election.

Atiku is not the one currently on the defence. Tinubu and his lackeys are.

If you cant beat them, you join them. Atiku has seen how Buhari and Tinubu gave Nigerians hopeless hopes to get to Aso Rock. Also, he has woken up from his slumber that OBJ gave him a hopeless hope to become the president. Now, he wants to use the strategy on Nigerians. This is the real example of a useless old maga.

Subsidy, if implemented transparently
with checks and balances isn't a bad thing
and is something most big countries like
America 🇺🇸 and UK 🇬🇧 do in different sectors
to help their citizens...

But in Nigeria, it was turned into a monumental
scam and became a looting program, especially
under the totally inept government of Buhari.

Tinubu just came and without thinking,
simply stopped it and created the biggest
poverty ever experienced in this country,
saying there is no other way.

We all know the Subsidy looters, but they
were left alone, while we, the citizens are made
to pay for the looters 🤨🤨🤨

You seek office to solve problems, not to create
problems

AMINDA:
Of course he does. Even almighty America subsidises fuel production. Why shouldn't a third world albeit oil-producing country like Nigeria do the same.

That is different from the “subsidy” we practice.

Nigeria government do same thing even till today too.

Your problem is that you can’t comprehend lot of things. I live in USA and the gas price is cost reflective.

No sane person will say USA is subsidizing pump price and keeping price at the same price per period like Nigeria subsidy of the past does.

Greatex90:
Read your statement again 😃
Subsidy is coming.
Nigerians will be Ok

The era of fuel subsidy is far gone in Nigeria. Wake up to.the reality.

Nigeria is already okay, going the right direction with president Tinubu

Greatex90:
I will surely Vote Atiku. Let subsidy return.

Let every Nigerian benefits from the government. Hardship is becoming alarming.

Naira is at the weakest, Yet one man said the economy is stable. Propaganda will keee dem

So when subsidy returns naira will be stronger

Greatex90:
It has not cast.
Omoh but date is important sha . I can't wait to cook soup with 2k abeg. My transportation to work will reduce from 60k to 20k. Joy is coming.
Atiku is coming

Ask yourself some questions:
Were you able to buy petrol at official price most times during subsidy regime?
Did you not buy at 1000 from black market?
Did you not used to queue for petrol at filling stations all the time?
Did you not cry for easy availability of petrol even at higher price?
Did workers receive salary in full and when due during subsidy?
Was naira value not depreciating during subsidy?
Did we have enough dollars to transact business abroad?
Did Buhari and the previous predecessors not borrow to pay for subsidy?
What magic will Atiku do now that he could not have done as VP to Obj?
Do you think the refineries will ever wake up again under a subsidy regime?
Do you not think Atiku will sell all our refineries for 1 naira to his friends when they are not working under subsidy regime?
Do you not think this policy is aimed at giving opportunity to his friends to own NNPC?
Why can’t Atiku start subsidy in his private university for the poor?

Search your conscience and answer those questions.

AMINDA:
Atiku is not the one currently on the defence. Tinubu and his lackeys are.

Nope. Atiku campaign will be on defense from now till election time. He has boxed himself to a corner.

Intellectuals will continue to ask him “how” everytime and he can’t defend his stance to any sane educated person.

An example is what Paul Ibe did. There is no way you can defend the stance and not trip. Atiku has been in the game for over 20 years and yet he can’t still plan propaganda well