Atiku asks Tinubu to “step down” over economic hardship, says 30-day petrol discount exposes policy failure

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who is running as the presidential candidate for the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has accused President Bola Tinubu of copying his production subsidy model. Speaking at the inauguration of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council in Abuja, Atiku claimed that Tinubu had taken his production subsidy proposal, removed the effective elements, and presented it as a 30-day fuel discount for Nigerians.

Atiku had previously offered his economic relief plan to Tinubu during a press conference, but instead of accepting it for the good of the nation, the President gave the citizens only a 30-day discount. Despite describing Tinubu's petrol discount policy as deception, Atiku acknowledged that the government had been increasing the cost of living for three and a half years.

He questioned the sincerity of the government's 30-day relief offer, stating that it was insufficient to compensate for the hardships Nigerians had endured. Atiku also urged electoral reforms, including independent audits of election technology and severe penalties for electoral offenses, in order to ensure fair and transparent elections.