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President Bola Tinubu has launched a fresh attack on former Vice President Atiku Abubakar over his proposal to restore fuel subsidy if elected president in 2027, describing a return to the old subsidy regime as “a demonstration of serious ignorance on governance and the economy.”
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Tinubu said 27 states were unable to pay workers’ salaries before he assumed office, arguing that the Federal Government had been carrying a heavy financial burden while state governments struggled to meet their obligations to workers and pensioners.
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The President spoke while receiving Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, where he urged the governor to use his re-election to promote reconciliation, unity, peace, stability and the rule of law.
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Adeleke, who secured a second term in the August 15 governorship election, thanked Tinubu for what he described as the President’s commitment to a free and fair election, with the governor symbolically presenting his Certificate of Return to the President.
August 21, (THEWILL) — President Bola Tinubu has slammed former Vice President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, over his proposal to restore fuel subsidy, describing the plan as “a demonstration of serious ignorance on governance and the economy.”
Tinubu made the remark on Thursday when he received Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, who paid a thank-you visit to the President at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, following his victory in the August 15 governorship election.
The President, who used the occasion to defend his administration’s economic reforms, said reversing the removal of fuel subsidy would amount to returning to a system that had placed severe financial pressure on the Federal Government and state governments.
“I saw one of my opponents now say he will go back to subsidy. I read it. That is a demonstration of serious ignorance on governance and the economy”, Tinubu said.
The President said the economic situation inherited by his administration was characterised by widespread inability of state governments to meet their financial obligations.
“Before I came here, 27 states were unable to pay salaries, not to talk of pensioners. Workers were owed salaries, while state governments depended on the Federal Government and were unable to do much”, he stated.
Although Tinubu did not name Atiku in the statement, his remarks were directed at the ADC presidential candidate, who has proposed a new subsidy model ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
THEWILL reports that Atiku, on Thursday, unveiled his Economic Recovery Plan (AERP) 2027, proposing a shift from the old import-based subsidy system to a targeted production subsidy for Nigerian refineries.
Under Atiku’s proposal, qualifying public and private refineries would receive domestic crude at preferential prices, subject to strict production, efficiency, transparency and domestic supply conditions. He said the intervention would be capped, budgeted and independently audited, with every subsidised barrel tracked from crude allocation through refining to the final consumer.
Atiku argued that his proposal was not a return to the old subsidy regime but an attempt to use temporary and controlled government support to expand domestic refining capacity and lower energy costs. He also challenged Tinubu to explain petroleum-related expenses recorded after the President announced the removal of fuel subsidy on May 29, 2023.
The former Vice President cited figures which he said were contained in NNPCL audited financial statements, including approximately ₦4.84 trillion in Energy Security Expenses in 2023 and ₦7.13 trillion in 2024. He questioned whether such expenses incorporated under-recoveries, pricing differentials or other petroleum-related costs.
Atiku also demanded a month-by-month reconciliation of about ₦30 trillion in Federation revenues, deductions, savings, transfers and related funds, which he said required greater transparency.
Tinubu’s latest remarks, therefore, deepen an emerging political battle over the future of fuel subsidy, with both camps offering sharply different approaches ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
While Atiku has argued for a capped and transparent production subsidy that would progressively disappear as domestic refining becomes more competitive, Tinubu has continued to defend the removal of the previous subsidy regime as necessary to restore fiscal stability.
Tinubu Charges Adeleke To Unite Osun
Beyond the subsidy controversy, the President urged Adeleke to use his second term to promote reconciliation, unity, peace and stability across Osun State.
Tinubu said Adeleke’s victory should not be regarded as a conquest over his political opponents but as a mandate to serve all residents of the state.
“All for reconciliation, expand your coast. That is the only way you can give thanks to our people. Not the way you sang it or celebrated it. It’s the way you act it”, he said.
The President urged the governor to see his electoral victory as an opportunity to make history by strengthening democracy and the rule of law.
“Use me as an example. I got here because God put me here. Where you are today, God put you there. It is not the smartness of any of these people. Their support helped, but it is the wish of God and the wish of the people that prevailed for you”, Tinubu said.
He specifically warned Adeleke against stigmatising or victimising those who opposed him during the election.
“You are in a very unique position to make history, promote unity, peace and stability. Use it. You did a very good mobilisation with your team. Very good job. Promote democracy. Promote stability. Promote the rule of law. Don’t stigmatise any of your opponents. You did not conquer anybody; you won the election. That is the essence of democracy”, the President said.
Tinubu also urged Adeleke to concentrate on governance and improving the welfare of Osun residents rather than allowing political differences to divide the state.
He said the governor should build broad networks of unity and ensure that his administration served residents irrespective of political affiliation.
The President listed infrastructure development, rehabilitation of schools and hospitals, improved healthcare delivery, training of teachers and health workers and protection of vulnerable citizens among the priorities that should receive attention.
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Adeleke Thanks Tinubu For ‘Free, Fair’ Poll
Adeleke, in his remarks to State House correspondents, said the purpose of his visit was to thank Tinubu for ensuring what he described as a free and fair election in Osun.
The governor said the President’s commitment to democratic values contributed to the credibility of the election.
“I am here to thank Mr President, the father of the nation, because he fought for this democracy. That is why he allowed a free and fair election, and that is the result. That is why I am here, to say thank you and to ensure that democracy lives in Nigeria”, Adeleke said.
The high point of the visit was Adeleke’s symbolic presentation of his Certificate of Return to Tinubu.
Felix Ifijeh is a journalist with years of professional reporting experience. Known for his keen news sense, compelling storytelling and commitment to accurate, impactful reporting, he has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.
