Shettima say Atiku no get skill to run modern economy over subsidy plan

Vice-President Kashim Shettima don question former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar ability to manage Nigeria economy, as e fault im proposal to bring back petrol subsidy if e win 2027 presidential election.

Shettima talk on Monday at di 32nd Nigerian Economic Summit for Abuja, where e yan say di proposal go carry di country back.

"One of di leading presidential candidates dey push for di return of di subsidy scheme. E want make we backslide into penury for political convenience," Shettima talk, according to Vanguard and Daily Trust.

E come turn to Atiku background, talk say di former vice-president train for sanitation at di Kano School of Hygiene and therefore no get di skill set for modern economy. "Na di painful truth," e talk.

Shettima also question Atiku grasp of public health, talk say e doubt di former vice-president fit tell difference between airborne diseases and Ebola, wey dey spread through contact. Outlets report di comparison small different: Vanguard quote am say flu and Ebola, while Daily Trust quote flu and COVID.

Why e matter to Nigerians

Di argument touch di heart of cost-of-living question wey many households dey face every day. President Bola Tinubu remove petrol subsidy in May 2023. Government talk say di move dey needed to ease pressure on public finances, but e come with higher fuel prices and rising costs for transport, food and other basics.

Atiku, now di presidential candidate of di African Democratic Congress (ADC), reportedly propose to restore di subsidy to cushion those costs. Shettima reject dat path, talk say Tinubu take "painful decisions because he understands the dynamics."

E urge Nigerians to weigh candidates' proposals and qualifications well well before voting. "Nigerians must have to decide and those of you here cannot afford to play the ostrich," e talk.

For di same event, Shettima praise Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo as one of im heroes for Nigerian politics, note say di two belong to different parties. Soludo win election on di platform of di 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 talk.

Wetin go happen next

Di subsidy debate likely to stay central to di run-up to 2027, with di ruling party defending di removal and opposition figures promising relief. Voters go weigh both against wetin dem dey pay for pump and for market.