A former spokesperson for the All Progressives Congress in Lagos, Seye Oladejo, has accused the African Democratic Congress of desperation following his plan to return fuel subsidy if elected president in 2027.

“One cannot also resist asking whether this latest policy somersault is driven, at least in part, by political desperation,” Mr Oladejo stated in a statement on Saturday.

He added, “Atiku has indicated that the 2027 presidential election would be his final attempt at the presidency. If that is indeed the case, is the sudden embrace of subsidy restoration a carefully considered economic policy-or an electoral strategy born of the urgency to make one last bid for the highest office in the land?”

Mr Atiku, in an interview with journalists on Wednesday, said that though he did not oppose subsidy removal, the money saved from the policy was stolen and not reinvested to improve citizens’ lives.

“I didn’t oppose the removal of subsidy. 

But where is the money? The money gotten should have been used to tackle poverty, out-of-school children and other things,

“Where is the money? They stole it. I will return fuel subsidy. The big thing was that they removed the subsidy, but where is the money? Even if I removed subsidy, I would still work,” the former vice-president said.

Mr Oladejo, who accused Mr Abubakar of inconsistency, noted that subsidy removal should not be reduced to a mere campaign slogan.

He added, “After several presidential attempts, perhaps the temptation to tell Nigerians what they desperately want to hear becomes irresistible. But the presidency of Nigeria is too consequential to be reduced to a last-chance political project.

“A policy as fundamental as fuel subsidy cannot be switched on and off like a campaign slogan simply because an election is approaching. Nigerians deserve to know whether Atiku’s new position represents a genuine reconsideration of economic policy or merely another political calculation ahead of what he has described as his final presidential contest.”

Acknowledging Mr Abubakar’s position on accountability in terms of subsidy proceeds management, the APC chieftain said accountability should not be confused with economic nostalgia.

“And if the problem is accountability for the resources released by the reform, then let us have that conversation. Where did the money go? What was saved? How was it allocated? What projects were funded? What benefits accrued to Nigerians?

“These are legitimate questions. But accountability should not be confused with economic nostalgia,” he added.

Mr Oladejo urged opposition to debate issues, adding that “2027 should be about a contest of ideas, credibility, competence and demonstrable capacity.”