Cheap petrol: Tinubu copying my subsidy model – Atiku

Former Vice President and Presidential Candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has accused President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of copying his production subsidy model.

Reacting to the 30-day fuel discount announced by the Federal Government, on Thursday, Atiku accused Tinubu of wrongly copying his production subsidy model.

The Presidential candidate made the declaration at the inauguration of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council in Abuja, on Friday.

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“You copied my production subsidy proposal, stripped away the part that makes it work, and handed Nigerians a 30-day discount,” Atiku alleged.

The ADC Presidential candidate recalled that in his last press conference, he agreed to share his economic relief plan with Tinubu, but said instead of accepting that offer in the national interest, he gave citizens just 30-day discount.

Atiku however said, “I am glad you have finally acknowledged the failure of your approach,” adding that he offered a plan because Nigerians’ welfare matters more to him.

While describing President Tinubu’s petrol discount policy as deception, he added that for three and a half years, the government had driven up the cost of living.

“Now you offer a ₦50 petrol discount for 30 days and expect applause for returning a fraction of what Nigerians have lost?

“How can you make daily life unbearable for years and expect one month of token relief to wipe the record clean?” Atiku said.

Atiku also called for reforms in the electoral system, including the right of parties and observers to verify election results, and to broadcast state and national collation centers live.

“We also demand independent audits of election technology before and after elections, an independent commission to investigate and prosecute electoral offenses, electoral institutions whose transparent processes command public confidence, and severe penalties for vote suppression, result tampering and fraud.

“These are not threats to democracy; they are safeguards for the people’s mandate,” he said.

In his speech, Chairman of the ADC Campaign Council Kashim Ibrahim-Imam, called on Nigerians to collect their Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC) to vote out the All Progressives Congress (APC) government in 2027.

“Collect your voter’s card. Go out early. Stay until the result is counted and posted. Guard your vote with your eyes, not with your fists, because a peaceful people in their millions cannot be rigged out of their own country,” Imam said.

In his speech, Senator David Mark, the National Chairman of the ADC, charged members of the campaign council to leave no stone unturned.

“Leave no legitimate question unanswered. And leave no Nigerian behind. Go to every state, every local government, every ward and every community. Engage our traditional rulers, religious leaders, women, youths, workers, farmers, professionals, traders, artisans, students and persons living with disabilities. Listen to all Nigerians. Do not take any community for granted. Earn the confidence of the people.”

He said the campaign must be about the issues that matter to Nigerians such as, “High cost of living, poverty, the economy, security, jobs, food, education, healthcare, infrastructure, inflation, good governance, the rule of law and the future of our young people.

“Nigerians already know their problems. We do not need to lecture them about their sufferings.”