Atiku Fires Back At Tinubu Over Energy Cost, Says Nigerians Deserve Relief

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has criticised President Bola Tinubu over his recent comments on proposals aimed at reducing energy costs, saying Nigerians have endured prolonged economic hardship while the government is now promising relief as the 2027 elections draw closer.

Atiku made his position known through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, who issued a statement on Tuesday titled, “Tinubu, the issue is not Atiku — it is why Nigerians can no longer afford to live.”

Shaibu said Atiku was not interested in turning the matter into a personal confrontation with the President. He maintained that the former vice president would continue to advocate policies that could ease the financial burden on Nigerians.

He said, “Atiku has more important people to engage directly: the mother struggling to feed her children; the civil servant whose salary disappears into transportation; the farmer paying more to move produce to market; the student being pushed into debt simply to remain in school; and millions of Nigerians whose daily reality bears no resemblance to the prosperity advertised in your tweets.”

The statement followed Tinubu’s recent criticism of Atiku’s economic proposals, particularly suggestions for reducing energy costs. The President had also rejected the possibility of a return to fuel subsidy arrangements.

Shaibu questioned the timing of the administration’s renewed promises to reduce transportation costs, boost food production and provide assistance to vulnerable Nigerians after years of economic difficulties.

“Why did Nigerians have to suffer for more than three years before your government discovered that economic growth must reach ‘the dining table and the pocket ‘. Why is intervention backwards when Atiku proposes it, but progressive when you announce it?,” he asked.

According to the statement, lowering energy costs could have broader economic benefits because cheaper fuel would reduce transportation and production expenses. This, it said, could eventually bring down the prices of food and other essential commodities.

Shaibu also outlined aspects of the Atiku Economic Recovery Plan, which he said would provide targeted support for Nigerian crude supplied to domestic refineries under a capped and transparently budgeted framework.

He said the proposal would involve tracking crude supplied to refineries, monitoring refined petroleum products and introducing a consumer pass-through mechanism to ensure Nigerians benefit directly from the intervention.

“The economics is straightforward. Reduce fuel costs, and you reduce pressure on transportation. Reduce transportation costs, and you reduce the cost of moving tomatoes, rice, yam, livestock and manufactured goods,” he said.