Fayemi: Atiku’s subsidy promise like APC Muslim-Muslim ticket
Former Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi said on Arise News that Atiku Abubakar’s pledge to reinstate the fuel subsidy if elected president in 2027 is politically comparable to the All Progressives Congress’s Muslim-Muslim ticket in 2023, describing it as a vote‑winning strategy rather than an economic solution. Fayemi, who chaired the Nigeria Governors Forum and advocated full subsidy removal, argued that Atiku’s promise will appeal to Nigerians still suffering from the subsidy cut that President Bola Tinubu announced in May 2023. He acknowledged the removal was necessary but criticised the way it was implemented, noting that his forum had worked with the federal government and the World Bank to design a safety net for vulnerable groups. The Tinubu administration says the savings from subsidy removal are being funneled into infrastructure projects, yet many citizens report heightened hardship due to higher transport and living costs. Atiku, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, has consistently promised to bring back the subsidy as a central part of his 2027 campaign. Fayemi’s comparison frames the subsidy debate as a political maneuver ahead of the next election, urging voters to scrutinise whether such promises are grounded in fiscal reality or aimed at electoral gain.