Some residents of Jigawa State have thrown their weight behind the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, over his promise to return fuel subsidy to revive Nigeria’s economy, saying the policy has impoverished the common man.

It was learnt that the issue has dominated discussions at tea joints, markets, motor parks and on social media in the last few days, following Atiku’s declaration during his first media chat last Wednesday after INEC lifted the ban on the 2027 presidential campaigns on August 19.

Atiku had declared during the media chat that, “I will restore fuel subsidy because the current removal has failed the masses. You cannot punish the poor in the name of reform. Subsidy is for the people, not for the elite.”

Reacting swiftly on Thursday, President Bola Tinubu slammed Atiku Abubakar’s proposal to bring back the fuel subsidy, stating: “I saw one of my opponents say he will bring back the fuel subsidy. That is a serious display of ignorance about governance and economics,” a remark that has further angered ordinary Nigerians.

But in Jigawa, residents who spoke exclusively with The PUNCH correspondent on Friday in Dutse said Tinubu’s reaction showed his government was disconnected from the suffering of the masses.

According to them, since the removal of the subsidy, life has become unbearable, with transport, food and the cost of living going beyond the reach of common Nigerians.

Malam Musa, a 52-year-old commercial driver at Dutse Central Motor Park, said Atiku had spoken the mind of every struggling Nigerian.

“Before subsidy removal, we were managing. Now we are suffering. Atiku has spoken the truth that every poor man feels. Fuel was N195, now it is over N1,300. How can we survive?” Musa said.

Harira Danladi, a foodstuffs seller at Dutse Central Market, said her business was collapsing because customers no longer had money to buy food.

“They told us subsidy removal will bring development, but we only see suffering. The masses are paying the price while the big men enjoy. I support Atiku 100 percent to bring it back,” Danladi said.

Usman Shehu, a 29-year-old youth leader in Takur Quarters, said Atiku’s promise was a sign of a leader who understood the economy of the poor.

“Fuel is life in Nigeria. When you touch fuel, you touch everything. Atiku wants to touch the lives of the masses positively by bringing subsidy back,” Shehu said.

Another resident, Malam Ibrahim Maibargo, a civil servant, said Tinubu’s defence of subsidy removal had exposed what he described as the anti-people nature of the administration.

“Tinubu says no going back, but we the masses are saying there is no going forward with this hardship. Salary remains the same but fuel has killed everything,” Maibargo said.

Similarly, Mrs Grace John, a hairdresser along Government House Road, said women were the worst hit by the policy and Atiku’s plan would give them relief.

“As a woman doing small business, I spend almost all my profit on transport and petrol for my generator. If Atiku returns subsidy, our businesses will breathe again,” she said.

Mrs John insisted that restoring subsidy was the only immediate way to crash prices, revive small businesses and restore purchasing power.

However, the residents described the debate, which has dominated public joints and social media in Jigawa, as a clear referendum that Nigerians had rejected the removal.

According to them, President Tinubu’s reaction that subsidy had gone forever was an insult to millions of Nigerians who trek daily because they cannot afford transport.

They argued that, unlike the incumbent administration, Atiku’s economic plan was people-centred and would prioritise welfare over International Monetary Fund (IMF) prescriptions.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with our correspondent, a Jigawa-based public affairs commentator, Comrade Dahiru Sulaiman, said Atiku’s position was timely and economically sound if he could fulfil the promise.

“Atiku is correct. What Tinubu called reform is actually deformation of the economy. You cannot remove subsidy without functional refineries, without wage increase to world standard and without safety nets,” Comrade Sulaiman said.

Sulaiman added that, “The reality of the masses today is hunger, anger and hopelessness. The country is bleeding. Restoring subsidy is not weakness, it is wisdom.”

He noted that Jigawa remained one of the poorest states and the impact of subsidy removal had pushed more families below the poverty line.

“The masses in Jigawa spend over 70 percent of their income on transport and food, both driven by fuel price. How will the economy grow?” he queried.

He therefore urged Nigerians to rally behind Atiku’s promise, describing it as the only practical solution to revive Nigeria’s economy and restore dignity to the poor. (The PUNCH)

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