Former presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Dumebi Kachikwu, has criticized Nigeria’s fuel subsidy removal, saying the policy unfairly punishes ordinary citizens instead of addressing corruption.
In a recent interview, Kachikwu clarified that it was former President Muhammadu Buhari, not President Bola Tinubu, who initiated subsidy removal by excluding it from the 2023 national budget.
“Tinubu only announced what Buhari had already done. But continuing without subsidy has pushed Nigerians into deeper hardship,” he explained.
“Subsidy Was Not the Problem”
Kachikwu argued that fuel subsidy, if properly managed, could protect Nigerians from high energy costs. He blamed corruption and mismanagement, not the subsidy itself, for draining national resources.
“It’s wrong that poor Nigerians are paying the price of our inefficiencies. The right thing was to prosecute those who abused the scheme, not punish millions,” he said.
Warning Against Political Recycling
The ADC chieftain also warned against what he called “political recycling”, accusing the same elites who failed Nigeria of trying to hijack fresh platforms like the ADC ahead of the 2027 elections.
He confirmed that he would contest again for president, stressing that Nigeria needs “bold, fresh ideas, not recycled politicians.”
“Atiku should go and rest. The same people who presided over Nigeria’s decline cannot suddenly claim to be our saviours,” Kachikwu declared.
Kachikwu’s remarks highlight growing debate over Nigeria’s fuel subsidy removal, its impact on citizens, and the role of recycled political elites in shaping the country’s future.
