Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has once again criticized President Bola Tinubu regarding the ongoing payment of subsidies on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and the conflicting statements surrounding it.
This criticism follows the President’s approval for the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to use the 2023 dividends intended for the federation to subsidize petrol.
In a post on his Verified Facebook page, Atiku expressed concern about this new development, labeling it as another example of opaque governance under the current administration.
He highlighted that this decision contradicts the President’s earlier announcement, made in a national broadcast, which declared an end to subsidy payments.
Atiku, who was the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate in the 2023 election, accused Tinubu’s government of using less transparent methods to pay subsidies.
“This discrepancy between the President’s statements and his actions not only undermines his leadership’s moral authority but also severely damages his administration’s credibility,” Atiku remarked.
Atiku also criticized the delays in the reactivation of the Port Harcourt Refinery, describing it as a national disgrace and attributing the failure to President Tinubu, who is also the Minister of Petroleum Resources.
Moreover, Atiku noted that the NNPC Limited’s persistent denials have exacerbated the problems faced by Nigerians due to fuel shortages and rising prices.
He expressed concern about the President’s silence in the face of reports that NNPCL is redirecting funds to cover subsidy payments and urged President Tinubu to address these critical issues to alleviate fuel scarcity and inflation for Nigerians.
