Atiku Abubakar, the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) presidential candidate, has criticized President Bola Tinubu’s strategy for eliminating fuel subsidies.
On Saturday, June 3, 2023, the former president voiced his disapproval during a PDP retreat for elected officials in Bauchi State.
Recall that President Tinubu continued a program first introduced by previous President Muhammadu Buhari in 2022 by announcing the end of gasoline subsidies in his inaugural address on Monday.
Both Tinubu and Atiku had initially endorsed the program.
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Atiku, however, questioned what some have referred to as a hurried policy choice when addressing during the retreat.
“Between 1999 and 2007, the PDP government initiated the petroleum subsidy removal and I chaired the committee,” Atiku said.
He continued by saying that during his administration, the subsidy was eliminated in two stages, but only after aiding the people who would be most negatively impacted.
“We have the experience as a party in government,” he said
“That is what we would have done and not just announced subsidy removal without discussion with the affected sectors of the economy. I think Nigerians should appreciate what they have temporarily lost.”
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The PDP’s acting national chairman, ambassador Umar Damagum, urged newly elected MPs to behave as “one family” in his opening comments.
Damagum claimed that the PDP’s future development would be greatly impacted by how members handle the current difficulties in the next National Assembly election.
“In order to remain relevant, we must work together as one family,” Damagum said, describing the current period as “very crucial” for the party.
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