Atiku Abubakar, Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 election, has launched an attack on the Bola Tinubu administration, alleging the diversion of public funds through the petrol subsidy scheme.
He contends that this clandestine practice is the reason behind the government’s reluctance to disclose the actual amount spent on the subsidy.
In a statement released on Thursday, Atiku responded to a statement from the presidency by criticizing the covert nature of the subsidy regime, which he argues has deterred investments in the oil sector.
Atiku remarked, “Tinubu has imported the opaque practices of running Lagos to the federal level. Despite claims that the subsidy is abolished, his Special Adviser on Energy, Olu Verheijen, admits intermittent interventions, while Finance Minister Wale Edun refers to subsidy removal as an ‘ongoing process’.
“A document reportedly authored by the Coordinating Minister of the Economy regarding the subsidy amount is now being disowned by its creators.”
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Highlighting reports from both the World Bank and the IMF indicating that Nigeria continues to pay petrol subsidies, Atiku cited a senior member of the APC who disclosed ongoing subsidy payments, contradicting the government’s denial.
Atiku underscored the inconsistency of Tinubu’s policies, warning that such vacillation and misinformation could discourage foreign direct investment.
He called upon Tinubu to demonstrate transparency regarding the subsidy issue, especially given his role as the Minister of Petroleum.
“The Tinubu administration should have the courage to own their policies and outcomes and be accountable to Nigerians for their actions,” Atiku said. He further claimed that the denial of the subsidy payments suggests that funds meant for the Federation Account, which should be shared with states and local governments, are being diverted without accountability.
Atiku called on the National Assembly to investigate the matter thoroughly instead of focusing on less important issues.
He stressed, “The National Assembly needs to fulfill its oversight responsibilities. Posterity will not be kind to its members if they continue to ignore the ongoing daylight robbery.”
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