Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, Atiku Abubakar, has accused President Bola Tinubu of copying his production subsidy model.
Atiku, in his reaction to the 30-day fuel discount announced by the Federal Government, on Thursday, accused Tinubu of wrongly copying his production subsidy model.
He made this allegation during the inauguration of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council in Abuja, on Friday.
“You copied my production subsidy proposal, stripped away the part that makes it work, and handed Nigerians a 30-day discount,” he said.
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.
But Atiku 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.
Atiku said, “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?”
He 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 centres live.
Atiku added, “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.”
Also speaking on the occasion, Chairman of the ADC Campaign Council, Kashim Ibrahim-Imam, urged Nigerians to collect their Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC) to vote out the All Progressives Congress 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.
ADC National Chairman, Senator David Mark, 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.”
Mark 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.”
