Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has strongly criticized President Bola Tinubu’s administration for continuing to subsidize Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), despite earlier claims that the subsidy regime had ended.
This critique comes in response to Tinubu’s approval of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited’s (NNPCL) request to divert 2023 dividends due to the federation for subsidizing petrol.
In a statement shared on his verified Facebook page, Atiku condemned the move, labeling it as yet another example of the opaque governance that has characterized Tinubu’s leadership.
“This discrepancy between the President’s statements and his actions not only undermines the moral authority of his leadership but also significantly erodes the credibility of his administration,” Atiku stated.
He pointed out that the decision directly contradicts Tinubu’s previous declaration during a national broadcast, where he had announced the termination of fuel subsidies.
Atiku, who was the presidential candidate for the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the recent election, noted that there had been growing signs of a return to subsidy payments, albeit through less transparent means.
He argued that this inconsistency between the President’s words and actions not only damages the moral authority of his leadership but also severely undermines the credibility of his administration.
In addition to his criticism of the subsidy issue, Atiku also denounced the prolonged delays in the reactivation of the Port Harcourt refinery, calling it a national embarrassment. He laid the blame for this failure squarely at Tinubu’s feet, given his dual role as both President and Minister of Petroleum Resources.
Atiku further highlighted the challenges facing Nigerians due to fuel shortages and rising prices, criticizing the continued denials by NNPC Limited, which he said only exacerbated the situation. He expressed concern over Tinubu’s silence amidst ongoing disputes between local investors pushing for refinery operations and those favoring imported PMS.
The former Vice President called on President Tinubu to take decisive action to address these critical issues and protect national interests. He urged greater transparency in the downstream petroleum sector and called on the administration to clarify the complexities surrounding the subsidy policy and PMS refining.
