You can’t return fuel subsidy, no pathway for you in 2027 – Okolugbo blasts Atiku

Former Delta State Commissioner for Oil and Gas Producing Areas, Sir Kenny Okolugbo, has harshly criticized Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), over his pledge to restore fuel subsidy if elected in 2027. The statement sparked a heated debate, with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) members accusing Atiku of planning to bring the nation back to corrupt practices.

In a video shared on his official X account on Wednesday, Okolugbo claimed that Atiku's promise was politically motivated, meant to secure votes ahead of the 2027 presidential election. Okolugbo questioned Atiku's decision to now support the reintroduction of fuel subsidy, reminding the former vice president that he had previously pledged to remove the subsidy in 2022.

Okolugbo stated, "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." Okolugbo assured that Atiku "cannot win this election, there's no pathway." He further argued that Atiku could not have previously pledged to remove the subsidy, yet now wants to bring it back.

Okolugbo emphasized, "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." The debate seems to be taking place on the southern part of the country, as Okolugbo concluded, "Maybe you’ll wait till 2031 when it goes back to the north. For now, it is the turn of the south."