Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Timi Frank, has asked President Bola Tinubu to apologise to former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and Nigerians over the removal of petrol subsidy, arguing that the Federal Government’s latest petrol discount scheme contradicts its previous position on the policy.
Mr Frank said the government’s decision to introduce a 30-day petrol discount at Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) retail outlets had raised questions about its earlier rejection of proposals to restore fuel subsidy as a way of cushioning the impact of rising petrol prices.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Friday, Frank urged Tinubu to acknowledge Atiku’s proposal to restore subsidy if elected president in 2027, describing it as a possible intervention to ease the economic hardship facing Nigerians.
“We expect Tinubu and his government to first apologise to Atiku Abubakar for its previous attacks on his position to return fuel subsidy if voted into office as President.
“Secondly, he should commend him and thank him for what we consider an excellent proposal that could help address the current economic hardship facing Nigerians,” he said.
The Federal Government announced the 30-day petrol discount on Thursday as part of measures to cushion the impact of rising fuel prices.
The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, said the arrangement was not a return to subsidy but an offer to sell petrol at cost for an initial period of 30 days.
However, Frank questioned the distinction between the temporary discount and the subsidy arrangement abolished by the Tinubu administration in May 2023.
“Simply put, Tinubu, who maintained a hardline stance on fuel subsidy removal, has gone back to his vomit,” he said.
Frank, who is the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) Ambassador to East Africa and the Middle East, also called on the President to apologise to Nigerians over the economic consequences of the subsidy removal.
“The President must immediately apologise to Nigerians over the fuel subsidy removal now that he has realised his policy mistake, which has taken a huge toll on Nigerians economically since 2023,” he said.
The former APC spokesman said the removal of subsidy had contributed to the financial difficulties faced by households and businesses, arguing that the effects extended beyond the direct cost of purchasing petrol.
According to him, higher fuel prices had increased transportation and logistics costs, putting pressure on traders, manufacturers, farmers and small businesses.
He added that households had also faced rising expenses on commuting, food and other essential needs, while many workers and business owners had struggled to keep their earnings in line with the rising cost of living.
Frank maintained that a 30-day discount would not reverse the cumulative economic pressure Nigerians had experienced since 2023.
He also questioned the scope and implementation of the intervention, asking the government to clarify the number of NNPCL retail outlets participating in the scheme, the volume of petrol to be sold at discounted rates and the measures planned after the initial 30-day period.
He said the government needed to explain how the intervention would provide meaningful relief to transport operators, traders, workers and low-income households beyond the temporary discount.
The latest development has also renewed debate over Atiku’s position on petrol subsidy, with the former vice-president reiterating in August that he would restore the policy if elected president in 2027.
“On the question of subsidy, my position has not changed and will not change: I will restore it!” Atiku said.
The former vice-president had argued that government resources should be used to protect Nigerians from severe economic hardship.
