Presidency slams Atiku, says he’s “confused”

The Presidency has criticized former Vice President Atiku Abubakar for his conflicting positions on petrol subsidy, stating that his changing explanations within a week demonstrate confusion and political maneuvering. Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, expressed these concerns in a statement accusing Atiku of being "confused on petrol subsidy; third U-turn in one week shows he is simply playing politics."

Atiku's position on the subsidy has shifted three times in a week, starting with a spokesperson's statement that he would restore petrol subsidy and subsequently phase it out. Another aide, Phrank Shaibu, then dismissed the spokesperson's position as "unauthorized and misleading". Atiku later reaffirmed his original proposal to restore targeted subsidy, stating, "I will restore targeted subsidy and put purchasing power back in the hands of Nigerians."

The Presidency questioned the different explanations, emphasizing that the policy contradiction was more than just semantics and urged Atiku to clarify his proposed subsidy, including its cost, beneficiaries, funding mechanism, and the conditions for its eventual removal. Onanuga also disputed the notion that petrol prices directly impact the cost of living, highlighting other factors such as insecurity, exchange rates, logistics, flooding, and agricultural input costs that contribute to food inflation.

Furthermore, Onanuga questioned whether Atiku's subsidy proposal would extend to other petroleum products derived from crude oil, such as diesel, aviation fuel, and kerosene, which have significant impacts on vulnerable Nigerians. The Presidency argued that a comprehensive economic policy should address broader issues driving inflation and the cost of living rather than focusing solely on petrol prices, rejecting Atiku's "policy somersaults, incoherence, destructive populism and election gimmicks."