The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, has criticised former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s proposal to reverse the removal of petrol subsidy, describing it as a desperate policy shift driven by the quest for political power.
Yilwatda said restoring subsidy would impose a huge burden on public finances and risk reversing economic reforms undertaken by the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The APC chairman spoke during a visit to the headquarters of the City Boy Movement in Abuja, where he inspected the organisation’s facilities and interacted with its leadership.
He argued that Nigerians deserved more than election-season promises, stressed that any proposal to restore subsidy must clearly explain its funding source, sustainability and potential impact on the economy.
“Economic policy cannot be reduced to election-season promises. Nigerians deserve to know precisely where the money will come from, what sectors will bear the cost and whether such a policy can be sustained without reopening the fiscal pressures that necessitated reform in the first place,” Yilwatda said.
He described the removal of petrol subsidy as a difficult but necessary decision, acknowledging its impact on Nigerians while noting that the government must continue to strengthen social interventions and productive sectors to cushion the effects.
Yilwatda also accused the opposition of failing, over the past three years, to present a comprehensive and convincing alternative governing agenda. He questioned why a major policy proposal was only being unveiled about four months to the 2027 general elections.
According to him, leadership required the courage to take difficult decisions and implement policies capable of delivering sustainable economic growth rather than making promises designed to secure immediate electoral support.
The APC chairman further criticised what he described as ideological and organisational inconsistency within the opposition, argued that politicians who frequently move between political platforms cannot credibly promise the stability required to govern Nigeria.
He contrasted this with President Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima, whom he said had maintained consistent political trajectories within the progressive political tradition.
Yilwatda said the Tinubu administration’s economic reforms were aimed at repositioning the economy, attracting investment, boosting domestic production and reducing dependence on unsustainable government interventions.
He warned that reversing the reforms without a credible alternative could undermine investor confidence and worsen the country’s fiscal position.
The APC chairman also urged Nigerians to scrutinise the records and policy positions of all presidential contenders ahead of the 2027 election, including questions surrounding past economic governance and allegations linked to the privatisation programme under the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
He said the 2027 election should be a contest of ideas, competence and credible policy alternatives rather than a competition over who could make the most attractive promises.
Yilwatda assured that the APC would continue to defend policies aimed at building a productive, investment-friendly and economically sustainable Nigeria, while remaining open to constructive criticism and credible alternatives.
