Former Ekiti State Governor and ex-Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Kayode Fayemi, has described Atiku Abubakar’s promise on fuel subsidy as a political strategy designed to attract Nigerians affected by the rising cost of living.
Fayemi likened the position of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate to the All Progressives Congress’ decision to field a Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket in the 2023 election.
Speaking during an interview on Arise Television’s Prime Time, Fayemi said Atiku’s proposal to restore fuel subsidy should be viewed more as an electoral strategy than an economic plan.
“My take on that is that Atiku’s proposal of subsidy is politically equivalent to our own Muslim-Muslim ticket in 2023. It’s a political strategy. It’s not an economic construct,” Fayemi said.
The former governor, however, acknowledged that the proposal could resonate with Nigerians struggling with the consequences of subsidy removal.
He said many vulnerable citizens were less interested in the technical arguments surrounding subsidy policy than in finding ways to cope with rising costs of food, transportation, education and healthcare.
According to Fayemi, Atiku was seeking to capitalise on the hardship being experienced by this segment of the population as the country moves towards the 2027 general elections.
“I believe that’s what Vice President Atiku is taking advantage of. The vulnerable segment of the population is still hard done by,” he said.
Fayemi maintained that he remained an advocate of fuel subsidy removal, noting that he had supported the policy for years, including during his tenure as chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum.
“I was and I remain an advocate of fuel subsidy removal. As chairman of the governors’ forum, I spent four years in this battle,” he said.
He nevertheless criticised the manner in which President Bola Tinubu’s administration implemented the policy, saying the groundwork for subsidy removal had already been substantially completed by the previous administration.
Fayemi said governors had previously worked with the Federal Government and the World Bank to develop a safety-net programme intended to cushion the impact of subsidy removal on vulnerable Nigerians.
He argued that such measures were necessary because the immediate consequences of removing the subsidy could place significant pressure on low-income households.
The subsidy was removed shortly after Tinubu assumed office in 2023, leading to a sharp increase in petrol prices and intensifying concerns over transportation costs, inflation and household expenses.
Atiku has criticised the policy and made the reversal of fuel subsidy one of the issues featured in his economic proposals ahead of the 2027 election.
Fayemi’s comments come as political parties and presidential contenders increasingly focus on economic hardship and the cost of living as major campaign issues.
The former Ekiti governor also linked poverty and inequality to insecurity, arguing that worsening economic conditions could contribute to insurgency and banditry.
He said political leaders should therefore focus on policies that enable ordinary Nigerians to afford basic necessities and improve their standard of living.
The controversy over subsidy policy is expected to remain a major issue in the 2027 presidential contest, with candidates likely to offer competing approaches to fuel pricing, domestic refining, social protection and economic reform.
While Fayemi sees Atiku’s subsidy proposal as an electoral calculation, supporters of the policy argue that reducing petrol costs could provide immediate relief to households and businesses still dealing with the effects of the subsidy removal.
The debate is therefore likely to continue as Nigerians assess the competing economic promises being presented ahead of the 2027 election.
