…inaugurates ADC Presidential Campaign Council, declares 2027 election a rescue mission
By Eshioromeh Sebastian
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has accused President Bola Tinubu of copying his production subsidy proposal without understanding it, describing the Federal Government’s newly announced 30-day petrol discount as a “clumsy and desperate retreat” that demands an apology to Nigerians.
Atiku spoke on Friday at the inauguration of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Presidential Campaign Council for the 2027 election, held at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja.
The former Vice President, who is the ADC presidential candidate, opened his address by recounting the hardships Nigerians have faced since Tinubu assumed office in May 2023, saying the President has had more than three years to improve lives but has instead delivered rising food prices, unaffordable transport costs and businesses struggling to stay afloat.
“I have heard the anger in your voices, and I share it,” Atiku said. “Across this country, people are ready to stand with us and demand better. I will stand with you until we make life affordable again.”
“What happens on day 31?”
Atiku recalled that when he proposed targeted support to ease fuel costs, the Tinubu administration dismissed the idea and accused him of being ignorant of economic policy. He noted that the government has now embraced the same principle through a 30-day petrol discount at NNPC stations, with priority for public transport operators.
“You called me ignorant of economic policy. Your government said it could not be done. Now, in a desperate and clumsy retreat, you have shamelessly embraced the principle you mocked. You owe me an apology. But more importantly, you owe Nigerians an answer: what happens on day 31?” he asked.
Using a classroom analogy, Atiku said the President copied his proposal so blindly that he reproduced the wrong answer.
“You are like a dull student who copied his classmate’s answer so blindly that he copied the classmate’s name at the top of his exam paper and then demanded marks for original thinking,” he said. “You copied my production subsidy proposal, stripped away the part that makes it work, and handed Nigerians a 30-day discount. Where is the rest of the answer?”
“A sugar rush, not economic policy”
Atiku described the 30-day discount as “a sugar rush masquerading as economic policy,” arguing that families cannot plan their meals around a temporary discount, transporters cannot set stable fares on it, and businesses cannot invest on the strength of it.
He outlined his alternative: support for petroleum products actually refined in Nigeria and sold to Nigerians, capped, budgeted, independently audited and excluding imports, with the public shown what it costs and what they save.
“You created the hardship and now want a medal for announcing fake relief,” he said. “This is Deception 101 — or, better still, yahoo-yahoo subsidy.”
He also criticised the government for blaming past administrations, insisting that the petrol price, collapsing purchasing power and closing businesses are the President’s responsibility.
Turning to the inauguration, Atiku described members of the campaign council as patriots and veterans of Nigeria’s democratic journey, charging them to take the party’s message to every market, motor park, farm, campus and street.
“Let this Council be known for the work it does, not the titles its members carry. We must be ready to govern from the first day,” he said.
He said the January 16, 2027 election is about the welfare of Nigerians and the future of their families, urging voters to collect and use their Permanent Voter Cards.
“Another four years of Bola Tinubu means another four years of hunger, hardship and national decline. We must take that message to every community and mobilise Nigerians to vote for rescue, recovery and a government that will make life affordable again,” he said.
Atiku also used the occasion to demand reforms to protect the integrity of the 2027 polls, including immediate publication of every polling-unit result, protection of the right of party agents and observers to verify results, live broadcast of state and national collation centres, and independent audits of election technology before and after elections.
He called for an independent commission to investigate and prosecute electoral offences, and for severe penalties for vote suppression, result tampering and fraud.
“Transparency is not a crime. Accredited party agents, civil society organisations and observers have the right to independently verify results and operate situation rooms. They do not replace INEC; they help confirm that the national outcome reflects what was recorded at each polling unit,” he said.
“No no-go areas”
The former Vice President also warned against attempts to restrict opposition campaigning, citing an attempt to block an opposition candidate from campaigning in Benue State.
“Let the APC-controlled Federal and State Governments hear us: there will be no ‘no-go’ areas in Nigeria. Opposition members are citizens with the constitutional right to move freely, express their views and campaign anywhere in the country,” he said.
“We will campaign in every state, from the creeks to the savannahs, and resist any effort to stop our candidates from reaching Nigerians. No one can partition this country or gag the opposition. We will defend these rights by every lawful means — in the courts, in the streets, and at the ballot box.”
Final message to Tinubu
Atiku closed with a direct appeal to the President.
“Thirty days cannot erase three and a half years of hardship. Nigerians have heard your excuses and endured your failed promises. They are ready to judge your record. After this latest admission of failure, the honourable thing to do is step down. Nigerians deserve a government that will do the work and make life affordable again,” he said.
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