Atiku faults FG’s sudden fuel subsidy removal, advises PDP’s Nat’l assembly members-elect not to be rubber-stamp
Samuel Luka, Bauchi
Former vice president and the Presidential candidate of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party PDP in the 2023 general elections, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has faulted the sudden removal of fuel subsidy by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The former Vice President made this known while speaking at a special retreat organized for all elected political office holders and other Stakeholders of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Bauchi state Saturday.
It can be recall that President had during his inaugural speech in May 29, announced the removal of subsidy on fuel even before he reported to office.
The PDP presidential candidate who lamented that the President took the decision without discussing with the affected sectors of the economy, said that the unplanned removal of the fuel subsidy will have a devastating effect on the common man.
“Between 1999 and 2007, the PDP government initiated petroleum subsidy removal and I chaired the Committee, we achieved subsidy removal in two phases, but only after providing palliatives to those most affected by the subsidy removal”, he said.
“We have the experience as a Party and government, that is what we would have done and not just announce subsidy removal without discussing with the affected sectors of the economy”, the former vice president said.
Alhaji Atiku advised all the elected National assembly members under the platform of the PDP not to be rubber-stamp in the discharge of their constitutional mandates.
“Our country is too damaged to allow time for more meaningless drama, our nation needs us, history beckons and I am confident that our national assembly members elect and indeed, all our party leaders and members will not disappoint the people of this country”, Atiku pointed out.
The former Vice President who reminded the national assembly members-elect that they are representatives of the party in their constituents, urged them not to be tempted to abandon the PDP.
“Don’t be tempted to abandon your party just because of the INEC induced temporary setback, in the end the truth and good shall triumph over falsehood and evil”, he said.
Alhaji Atiku pleaded with the members-elect to remain resolute and not to work in isolation from one another in order to achieve meaningful results.
He also charged them to remained connected to their root, constituents and other Stakeholders of the PDP.