Former Delta State Commissioner for Oil and Gas Producing Areas, Sir Kenny Okolugbo, has slammed the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Atiku Abubakar, over the latter’s promise to restore fuel subsidy if elected president in 2027.
DAILY POST reports that Atiku’s position on the subsidy had sparked widespread debate, with members of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, accusing him of planning to return the country to corruption.
Reacting in a video shared on his official X handle on Wednesday, Okolugbo alleged that Atiku’s promise was politically motivated, stressing that the move was aimed at securing votes ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
He questioned the former vice president’s decision to now support the restoration of fuel subsidy, recalling that Atiku had reportedly pledged in 2022 to remove the subsidy.
He said, “So, I’m tired of this debate on fuel subsidy. Atiku, you cannot bring back fuel subsidy, you are only doing this because you want to win the 2027 election by all means.
“I assure you that Atiku cannot win this election, there’s no pathway. You couldn’t have said you’re going to remove the subsidy just at the last election and now you’re going to bring it back.
“Of course, we want the economy to do a lot better than it is now, but you cannot bring back subsidy and take us back to the dark old days when we were printing 30 trillion naira yet not able to pay salaries, the state couldn’t pay salaries.
“Maybe you’ll wait till 2031 when it goes back to the north. For now, it is the turn of the south.”
You can’t return fuel subsidy, no pathway for you in 2027 – Okolugbo blasts Atiku