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 policy shift that raises concerns about the opposition’s economic direction ahead of the 2027 general election.
Yilwatda made the remarks 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.
In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Information Strategy, Abimbola Tooki, the APC chairman argued that any proposal to restore fuel subsidy must be subjected to rigorous scrutiny because of the fiscal burden it previously imposed on government finances and the distortions it created in the economy.
He said Nigerians deserved clear explanations on how such a policy would be funded, warning that a return to the subsidy regime could reopen fiscal pressures that necessitated its removal, widen government spending obligations, undermine investor confidence and potentially slow ongoing economic reforms aimed at attracting investment and strengthening domestic production.
“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.
The APC chairman noted that the opposition had been challenged repeatedly in recent years to present a coherent alternative governing agenda but had yet to offer what he described as a convincing economic programme.
He questioned the timing of Atiku’s proposal, coming months before the 2027 elections, and said it risked reversing reforms undertaken by the current administration.
According to him, the removal of fuel subsidy was a difficult but necessary decision, requiring complementary measures to cushion its impact on citizens while promoting long-term economic stability.
He argued that sustainable growth requires leaders willing to implement and defend difficult reforms rather than offer short-term solutions for political advantage.
Yilwatda further warned that reversing key economic reforms without a credible alternative could weaken investor confidence, increase fiscal strain and jeopardise gains being pursued under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The APC chairman also criticised what he described as a lack of ideological consistency within the opposition, arguing that political stability and clarity were essential for governing a complex country.
He contrasted this with the APC leadership, which he said had maintained a consistent progressive political orientation.
He urged Nigerians to carefully evaluate the policy proposals, competence and records of those seeking the presidency, insisting that the 2027 election should be decided on the basis of ideas, governance capacity and credible solutions to Nigeria’s economic challenges.
Yilwatda added that issues of accountability, transparency and economic governance should remain central to public debate as political activities intensify ahead of the election.
He reiterated the APC’s commitment to policies aimed at building a productive, investment-friendly and economically sustainable economy while remaining open to constructive criticism and credible alternatives.
