Shettima says Atiku lacks skills to run modern economy over subsidy plan

Vice-President Kashim Shettima has questioned former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar's ability to manage Nigeria's economy, faulting his proposal to bring back petrol subsidy if he wins the 2027 presidential election.

Shettima spoke on Monday at the 32nd Nigerian Economic Summit in Abuja, where he said the proposal would take the country backwards.

"One of the leading presidential candidates is advocating for the return of the subsidy scheme. He wants us to backslide into penury for political convenience," Shettima said, according to Vanguard and Daily Trust.

He then turned to Atiku's background, saying the former vice-president was trained in sanitation at the Kano School of Hygiene and therefore lacks the skill set for a modern economy. "That's the painful truth," he said.

Shettima also questioned Atiku's grasp of public health, saying he doubted the former vice-president could tell the difference between airborne diseases and Ebola, which spreads through contact. Outlets reported the comparison slightly differently: Vanguard quoted him referring to flu and Ebola, while Daily Trust quoted flu and COVID.

Why it matters to Nigerians

The argument goes to the heart of a cost-of-living question many households face daily. President Bola Tinubu removed the petrol subsidy in May 2023. The government says the move was needed to ease pressure on public finances, but it has come with higher fuel prices and rising costs for transport, food and other basics.

Atiku, now the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has reportedly proposed restoring the subsidy to cushion those costs. Shettima rejected that path, saying Tinubu took "painful decisions because he understands the dynamics."

He urged Nigerians to weigh candidates' proposals and qualifications carefully before voting. "Nigerians must have to decide and those of you here cannot afford to play the ostrich," he said.

At the same event, Shettima praised Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo as one of his heroes in Nigerian politics, noting that the two belong to different parties. Soludo was elected on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA). "He's a man of courage and conviction who can come out and go against the direction of the wind," Shettima said.

What happens next

The subsidy debate is likely to stay central to the run-up to 2027, with the ruling party defending the removal and opposition figures promising relief. Voters will weigh both against what they pay at the pump and in the market.