Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has proposed targeted support for locally refined petroleum products if elected president, promising to make essential goods and services more affordable for Nigerians.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by Phrank Shaibu, director of strategic communication for the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential campaign council, Atiku criticised President Bola Tinubu for defending the removal of petrol subsidies, accusing him of overlooking the economic hardship confronting households.
Atiku, the ADC presidential candidate, said Tinubu’s comparison of calls for fuel subsidy relief to asking Moses to return to Egypt showed a lack of understanding of the difficulties Nigerians face amid rising food and transport costs.
“You are the Egypt Nigerians are desperate to escape. You celebrate the day you made fuel more expensive, then lecture families struggling to pay for food and transport about why they must never go back,” he said.
The former vice-president accused Tinubu of using religious references to divert attention from the economic consequences of his policies.
“At least Pharaoh knew he was holding people captive. Tinubu watches families cut meals, workers spend their salaries on transport, and businesses struggle to keep their lights on, then tells them a story about Moses,” he said.
Atiku argued that Nigerians needed practical measures to reduce the cost of essential goods and services rather than comparisons drawn from biblical history.
“My proposal is clear: give limited, budgeted support only to verified petroleum products refined in Nigeria and sold to Nigerians,” he said.
“Imported fuel gets nothing. Independent auditors must track every naira, and the benefit must reach consumers in the price they pay. If it does not lower that price, it has failed its purpose.”
Atiku challenges Tinubu over insecurity
The ADC presidential candidate also criticised the Tinubu administration’s handling of insecurity, arguing that the president could not continue to blame his predecessor for attacks, kidnappings and other security challenges.
Atiku referred to comments by Abdulaziz Yari, Tinubu’s campaign director-general, who questioned what the president could do about insecurity when the late Muhammadu Buhari, a retired general, had been unable to eliminate it.
He argued that former President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua had addressed insecurity despite lacking a military background.
“Let me remind them that President Yar’Adua was not a sergeant, yet he stamped it out,” Atiku said.
He added that Nigerians expected the president to confront armed groups, rescue abducted citizens and protect roads, farms and communities.
“If Tinubu cannot tell them how he will do that after more than three years in office, he has no business asking for four more years,” he said.
“The lives lost under his watch are not an argument about his predecessor. They are an indictment of his own leadership.”
Atiku said Nigerians deserved affordable fuel, safer communities and better welfare for security personnel.
“For millions of Nigerians, Egypt is the hunger, fear and indignity they are living through under you,” he stated.