Atiku disowns aide over subsidy remarks, insists fuel subsidy must return
By Ishaya Ibrahim
Presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has disowned his spokesman, Paul Ibe, over remarks suggesting that his plan was to initially restore the fuel subsidy and subsequently remove it in phases.
Speaking on AIT, Ibe said restoring the subsidy would give Nigerians and businesses room to recover, stimulate economic activity and improve productivity. He, however, said the proposal would not revive the old subsidy regime but would instead tie government support to crude oil production and domestic refining.
“We are not returning to Egypt. We are not going back to the old regime that was opaque. What he’s simply saying is that the subsidy that he is advocating will be tied to the barrel, the crude oil barrel,” Ibe said.
However, speaking to supporters who visited him, Atiku said he had received multiple calls from friends who told him his aide had contradicted him on the subsidy issue.
Atiku clarified that Ibe was not speaking on his behalf and insisted that his position remained that the subsidy would be restored.
“Earlier, one of my press aides contradicted me in a policy statement as far as subsidy is concerned. I want to repeat categorically that when I said I would return to subsidy, I will. Nigeria is rich enough to look after the welfare of its citizens.
“Let it be clearly stated that he was not speaking on my own authority,” Atiku said.
