By Sabiu Abdullahi
Former Rivers State Governor and African Democratic Congress vice-presidential candidate, Rotimi Amaechi, has said an administration led by Atiku Abubakar would reduce the cost of fuel, transportation and food within its first year in office.
Amaechi made the claim on Friday during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, where he criticised President Bola Tinubu’s economic policies and outlined some of the measures he said the ADC would introduce if elected in 2027.
He attributed the rising cost of living to the removal of petrol and electricity subsidies, saying Nigerians were struggling to afford basic necessities.
“Everybody is suffering, everybody is looking for food to eat. People can’t buy fuel or travel. The airlines are threatening to increase the cost of transportation; everything is skyrocketing,” he said.
Amaechi also criticised the Tinubu administration over electricity supply and said Nigerians were still waiting for improvements promised by the President.
“For Christ’s sake, President Tinubu does not have the right to speak; he doesn’t. He promised power and said if he doesn’t give power, they should not vote for him. Nigerians are waiting to vote him out,” he said.
According to Amaechi, Atiku has pledged to reintroduce subsidy measures as part of his plan to reduce the financial burden on Nigerians.
“Atiku said I should tell you people that he will bring back the subsidy. Tinubu removed subsidy for electricity bill. He said Band A, B and C,” Amaechi said.
He cited the increase in his household electricity bill as an example of the impact of the current tariff structure.
“My house electricity bill was N500,000; now I pay N4 million. Atiku said if he comes, I will go back to N500,000. No more Band A and B because government will subsidise it,” he said.
Amaechi also linked higher food and transportation costs to the removal of petrol subsidy.
“He just held microphone and didn’t care. He just said remove subsidy. Since he removed subsidy, transportation increased, food prices increased, tomatoes, corn, everything,” he said.
He added, “Atiku said he will bring back subsidy. If Atiku brings back subsidy, everything will come down.”
Amaechi clarified that the ADC was proposing a production subsidy rather than a return to the former consumer subsidy arrangement.
“The greatest asset you have is that the presidential candidate has said, I will bring back subsidy. We are not saying we are putting back consumer subsidy. We say we are putting back production subsidy,” he said.
On education, Amaechi claimed that the number of out-of-school children had risen from 12 million to 20 million under the Tinubu administration, while putting the number of illiterate Nigerians at 92 million.
“The number of out-of-school children has risen from 12 million to 20 million under Tinubu,” he said.
He also linked worsening insecurity to difficulties faced by farmers in accessing their farmlands.
“Insecurity also increased. You no even fit go farm, and government doesn’t care,” he said.
Explaining his decision to contest the 2027 election, Amaechi said his motivation was based on his understanding of Nigeria’s challenges.
“I don’t care who else is running. I’m running because I’m a Nigerian candidate. Because I know the Nigerian problem. And I can solve the Nigerian problem,” he said.
He also expressed confidence in the ADC’s chances if the party appears on the ballot in 2027, saying:
“Whether free and fair or not free, if we [ADC] are on the ballot, President Bola Tinubu will lose the election,” Amaechi added.
Amaechi’s comments came on the same day he said he would withdraw from Atiku’s ticket and campaign for Tinubu if petrol falls to N600 per litre, according to Channels Television’s report of the interview.
