- Safiu Kehinde
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has slammed former Vice President Atiku Abubakar over his vow to return fuel subsidy if elected President in the forthcoming 2027 General Election.
NPO Reported that the African Democratic Congress presidential candidate had labelled the subsidy removal by President Bola Tinubu a failure.
While he had in 2022 also vowed to remove the subsidy, Atiku recanted his statement as he claimed that the removal by Tinubu had failed to have any impact on the welfare of Nigerians.
Reacting to the ex-Vice President’s claim during an interview with newsmen on Thursday, Wike labelled Atiku a confused man as he recalled the ex-Vice President’s promise to remove if elected in 2023.
The FCT Minister recalled Atiku’s calling of the subsidy policy a fraud.
‘For Atiku who is confused with his voodo economy, he will say anything just to be president.
‘This was the man in 2022 that said he was going to remove fuel subsidy because it was a fraud.
‘Now in 2026, he said is not going to remove the fuel subsidy. Is he now going back to the fraud.’ Wike said.
The minister slammed Atiku over his inconsistency with his promises to Nigerians.
‘We should be able to be consistent with what we say to our people. That is what leadership is all about.
‘Leadership is not you coming out to say one thing in the morning and in the afternoon say different thing.’ He said.
Prior to his reaction on the subsidy removal, Wike dismissed claim of Atiku being one of the leading candidates ahead of the 2027 election.
He held that the election will be the easiest ever conducted in Nigeria as he identified Tinubu as the only leading candidate.
‘I disagree with you that Atiku is one of the leading candidates. We have just one leading candidate and that is Ahmed Bola Tinubu.
‘I have told you people that this will be the easiest election.
‘2027 is gone because we don’t have any opposition that will wrestle power with the government.’ The minister said.