Lere Olayinka, spokesperson for the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has challenged the 2027 presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, over his past position on fuel subsidy removal. Olayinka questioned Atiku’s stance during an interview on TVC News’ *Beyond The Headlines* on Thursday,…...
Lere Olayinka, spokesperson for the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has challenged the 2027 presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, over his past position on fuel subsidy removal.
Olayinka questioned Atiku’s stance during an interview on TVC News’ *Beyond The Headlines* on Thursday, October 22, while discussing opposition parties’ arguments ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
He recalled that Atiku had described fuel subsidy as fraudulent in 2022 and pledged to remove it if elected president.
“The only thing that he could tell Nigerians now is that he will stop subsidy?” Olayinka questioned.
He added, “And this is somebody in 2022 that told Nigerians that subsidy is a fraud.”
Reiterating the former vice-president’s reported position, Olayinka said, “Subsidy is a fraud. That if he’s elected, he will remove subsidy.”
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He questioned what had changed since Atiku made the statement, asking, “So if he did say subsidy was a fraud in 2022, so what has happened so far now?”
In 2022, Atiku Abubakar, the then presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), says he would engage creditors to seek “cancellation or forgiveness” to address the country’s foreign debt profile.
Abubakar said this on Tuesday at the Lagos Business School 2022 alumni day, while speaking on a range of economic issues in Nigeria, as well as his recovery plan for the country if elected president.
He also described the controversial petrol subsidy as a “fraud” and pledged to scrap it.
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“I was the chairman for the removal of the fuel subsidy committee and I recall how we removed phase 1 and phase 2 of the fuel subsidy. I will continue from where we stopped, remove fuel subsidy totally and channel the subsidy funds back into the economy. In other words, it’s just a fraud.
“If you are talking about foreign debt, we have done it before, I will engage our creditors and ask for debt forgiveness or cancellation like we did before. Coming to local debt, if we stabilise the economy, we will borrow less, and propose a flexible payment plan,” he said.
However, in August 2026, Atiku changed his position and has promised to restore fuel subsidies if elected President in the 2027 general elections.
According to Dauily Trust, Atiku stated this during a Hausa-speaking interview on the PAP show, saying anyone who had stolen funds meant for fuel subsidy would be made to return the money if he assumes office.
“I initially did not oppose the removal of the fuel subsidy. But now that it has been removed, where is the money?” Atiku said.
The presidential candidate pledged to reverse the policy if he defeats Tinubu in the January 2027 presidential election.
He added, “If I win the presidential election, I will restore the subsidy. And anyone who stole Nigeria’s subsidy funds must return the money. Now it has been removed. Where is the money? If the funds were used to improve healthcare, education, insecurity, security and youth empowerment, things would have been better.”
Tinubu announced the end of petrol subsidy during his inauguration on May 29, 2023, describing the scheme as unsustainable.