A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Niger State, Jonathan Vatsa, has backed former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, over his criticism of the Federal Government’s fuel subsidy removal policy.

Vatsa, a former Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism in Niger State, said the policy had imposed severe hardship on Nigerians and failed to deliver meaningful benefits to the ordinary citizens.

In a statement issued in Minna on Sunday and titled, “Let’s Take Atiku’s Message and Leave the Messenger,” the APC chieftain urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to reconsider the subsidy removal policy and apologise to Nigerians for the hardship he said it had caused.

Vatsa argued that political differences between President Tinubu and Atiku should not prevent the government from considering the substance of Atiku’s criticism.

“Even if you don’t like the messenger, you should at least take the message. The whole world knows that the subsidy removal policy of this government has failed; it has pushed Nigerians to extreme poverty,” he said.

According to him, the policy has benefited mainly the 36 state governors, their families, political office holders and government appointees with access to public funds, while ordinary Nigerians continue to struggle with rising living costs.

“The fuel subsidy removal only favoured the 36 state governors, their families, elected political office holders and government appointees who have access to government funds.

“It has not in any way benefited the common masses on the street. It has further pushed low-income earners in Nigeria below the poverty level. Life is meaningless to average Nigerians right now,” Vatsa stated.

The former APC publicity secretary in Niger State described as “greatest ignorance” the decision by government to continue with a policy which, according to him, has failed to improve the welfare of citizens.

He further alleged that increased government allocations had not translated into adequate infrastructure and improved living conditions across the country.

“While governors receive huge allocations every month, many of them continue to borrow and acquire loans which cannot be paid back in the next 30 years.

“Yet you see uncompleted projects all over the country. There are no roads, no schools and no hospitals,” he said.

Vatsa also criticised what he described as extravagant spending by some public officials, alleging that some governors had acquired private jets and luxury vehicles while government projects remained abandoned.

“Their private businesses continue to thrive while government projects are left abandoned. You don’t call this system reform; it is starvation. Nigerians can no longer breathe. Hardship has overwhelmed the people,” he added.

On fuel subsidy, Vatsa argued that governments around the world intervene in the energy sector to cushion the impact of rising prices on citizens, citing measures taken by European countries following the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war.

He said the major problem with fuel subsidy in Nigeria was not the concept itself but the corruption associated with its administration and payment.

According to him, the government should have focused on eliminating corruption and leakages in the subsidy system rather than completely removing the subsidy.

“If only payment of salaries is the reason for the removal of fuel subsidy, then the government is ignorant of how to manage the economy. Despite the huge allocations, state governments still owe pensioners,” Vatsa submitted.

He called on President Tinubu to have a rethink of the subsidy policy and adopt measures that would reduce the economic burden on Nigerians. (Channels)