Presidency to Atiku: Stop shifting positions on petrol subsidy

The Presidency has accused former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar of inconsistency over his position on petrol subsidy, describing his recent comments as political rather than a coherent economic policy.

In a statement on Wednesday, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said Atiku had offered three different explanations of his proposed petrol subsidy policy within a week.

Onanuga said Atiku’s spokesperson, Paul Ibe, initially announced that the former vice-president would restore petrol subsidy if elected president and later phase it out.

According to him, another senior aide, Phrank Shaibu, subsequently described Ibe’s statement as an unauthorised and misleading characterisation of Atiku’s position.

Shaibu, Onanuga said, argued that Atiku would not set a fixed date for ending the subsidy, but would retain it until domestic refining expanded, fuel supply stabilised, competition deepened and market conditions supported affordable prices without government intervention.

However, Onanuga said Atiku later intervened and reaffirmed that his position had not changed, saying he would restore what he described as a targeted subsidy.

Atiku was quoted as saying: “I will restore targeted subsidy and put purchasing power back in the hands of Nigerians.”

The Presidency described the conflicting explanations as evidence of policy confusion, saying Nigerians deserved clarity on how the proposed subsidy would work.

“If Atiku’s position has not changed, why did one of his principal aides say the subsidy would be temporary and phased out? Why did another senior aide have to publicly disown that explanation and introduce a completely different framework based on market conditions?” Onanuga asked.