Mr Ken Imansuagbon, a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and former governorship aspirant in Edo State, has endorsed the party’s presidential candidate, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, over his pledge to restore petrol subsidy if elected in 2027, saying the policy reversal would bring immediate relief to millions of Nigerians facing economic hardship. TrackingExecutive Branch Policy Changes In a strongly worded statement issued on Saturday in Benin City, Imansuagbon described the criticism that greeted Atiku’s position from the presidency and the ruling APC as “misplaced and politically motivated”.
President Bola Tinubu led administration’s removal of fuel subsidy has further impoverished Nigerians, worsened inflation and inflicted unprecedented hardship on families across the country, he said.
He said, “The removal of fuel subsidy has not translated into better life of Nigerians. Instead, it has pauperized millions of citizens, robbed workers of their purchasing power, made transportation, food, healthcare and education costlier, while businesses continue to shut down under the burden of unbearable operating costs.”
Atiku’s pledge to restore the subsidy was not an indication of inconsistency but a demonstration of courageous leadership that could review policies that failed to achieve their objectives, the ADC stalwart said.
“There is no fault in Atiku’s willingness to revisit a position he took in 2023. That’s what a compassionate, people-oriented leader does,” he said.
He further argued that although the Federal Government had claimed savings of trillions of naira from subsidy removal, Nigerians had not seen much in terms of prudent application of the funds.
“Where are the trillion dollars that are said to have been saved? Nigerians want transparent answers. “Our infrastructure is still collapsing, our security is deteriorating, our hospitals are failing, our schools are underfunded, we have mass unemployment and deepening poverty. “If these huge resources were truly invested in the welfare of the people, by now, the ordinary Nigerian should have felt the impact,” he said.
He argued that the real debate should not be on whether subsidy should stay or be removed, but whether the policy had improved the ordinary citizens’ quality of life.
“The important question is simple. Has removal of subsidy made life better for Nigerians? Clearly, the answer is no. The resources released were expected to improve transportation, healthcare, education, employment opportunities and social protection programs, but Nigerians have only experienced more suffering and economic despair,” Imansuagbon said. BookingHistorical Guided Tours The former governorship aspirant said Atiku had the experience, competence and economic understanding needed to rescue Nigeria from what he termed “economic quagmire” created by the APC-led Federal Government.
“Atiku Abubakar is today the only presidential aspirant with the courage, capacity and economic blueprint to reset Nigeria on the path of recovery. “The pains inflicted on Nigerians under President Tinubu’s administration can begin to heal within Atiku’s first 100 days in office through people-centred economic reforms, including the restoration of subsidy where necessary to cushion the suffering of citizens,” he said.
He praised the former vise president for his enduring love for humanity and commitment to the welfare of Nigerians, urging citizens to move beyond party sentiments and to back policies that could restore hope to the country.
He insisted that Nigeria’s economic recovery should take precedence over politics, adding that any policy that did not improve the living conditions of the people deserved to be reviewed in the national interest.