The former vice president and presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2019 presidential election, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has accused the National Chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole of opposing his attempt to phase out fuel subsidy when he was vice president under the Olusegun Obasanjo presidency between 1999 and 2007, and Oshiomhole was president of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC).
Atiku who took to his twitter handle, @atiku to make the clarification on Saturday evening, while responding to a tweet by his media aide, Mr. Paul Ibe who initially raised the point, however said the administration managed to phase out diesel subsidy despite Oshiomhole’s opposition.
“The Obasanjo government in which I served commenced a phased subsidy withdrawal. I was tasked with negotiating with then NLC Chairman and current APC Chairman who stood strongly against it,” Atiku wrote.
“Nonetheless, we achieved two phases of subsidy removal of fuel and complete withdrawal of subsidy of diesel before we left office. -AA”
OYOGist.com reports
OYOGist.com reports
Atiku’s media aide, Mr. Ibe had noted earlier in a tweet via his handle @omonlakiki, that “For the avoidance of doubt, the Obasanjo administration embarked on a regime of subsidy removal. But the former NLC Chairman frustrated the efforts. Even at that, the Obasanjo government achieved some measure of subsidy removal before their exit in 2007.”
The fuel subsidy regime has remained a controversial issue in the country, with billions of naira spent yearly on it.
In 2012, former president Goodluck Jonathan announced its total removal, an action that jacked up fuel pump price to N96 per litre. But he was forced to reverse the decision following continued protests by civil society groups.
Upon coming to power, President Muhammadu Buhari announced partial withdrawal, which again, moved pump price to N145 in 2016.
