Alleged N5.4trn Fuel Subsidy: Why Atiku Wants Tinubu To Be Brave

The 2023 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has asked the National Assembly to investigate the alleged secret payment on petrol subsidy under the President Bola Tinubu administration.

Atiku’s request came as the PDP demanded for an open investigation into the reported reintroduction of petrol subsidy.

In a statement by his Media Adviser, Paul Ibe, on Thursday, Atiku urged the Federal Government to demonstrate bravery in taking ownership of its policies and their consequences and be accountable to Nigerians.

GWG.ng reports that Atiku challenged the Tinubu administration to cease misleading the public about its stance on petrol subsidy.

He stated that despite public statements by Tinubu regarding petrol subsidy removal, the administration had been covertly disbursing trillions of naira for petrol subsidy.

Recall that a document leaked to the media on Wednesday showed that the Federal Government spent N3.6tn in 2023 on subsidy and projected to spend N5.4tn in 2024.

The documents’ position was contrary to the declaration by Tinubu during his inaugural speech as president on May 29, 2023, where he declared, “Subsidy is gone.”.

“Nigerians can recall how APC leaders, in their characteristic manner, tried to divert public attention when the PDP earlier alerted of this fraudulent act in a statement on May 28, 2024,” Atiku said.

“This revelation by Wale Edun, after a series of denials by the APC leaders and government officials, validates the axiom that no matter how long lies appear to thrive, the truth, like the sun, will always prevail.

“Is it not provocative and an act of extreme insensitivity that while our nation is suffering from grave infrastructural decay and millions of Nigerians subjected to punishing hardship, acute poverty, life of misery and utter despondency by the removal of subsidy without cushioning measures, a staggering N5.4tn, in the name of fuel subsidy, is reportedly being cornered by corrupt APC leaders?”

The PDP called on Tinubu to promptly clarify the situation by addressing the nation and initiating a public inquiry into the reported N5.4tn fuel subsidy in his administration.

“Nigerians deserve to know: Where is the N5.4tn being taken from? Which agency of government is responsible for the payment of the said fuel subsidy and to who? What are the criteria used for payment? What volume of fuel is being subsidised and at what cost? Why is petrol still selling exorbitantly even with the revelation of the continuing payment of fuel subsidy? These are questions that need to be answered.

“The PDP demands that President Tinubu immediately clears the air and come clean by personally addressing Nigerians and ordering a public enquiry into the reported N5.4tn fuel subsidy under his watch.

“President Tinubu should immediately review his economic team to get capable hands and check the corruption prevalent in the administration,” the party said.

With additional reports from The Punch

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