2027: Atiku hasn’t offered sensible alternative to Tinubu — Morka

The National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Felix Morka, has faulted the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Atiku Abubakar, over his call on President Bola Tinubu to reduce petrol prices and ease the economic burden on Nigerians.

Morka said Atiku had failed to present a clear alternative to the economic policies of the Tinubu administration.

He spoke on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday, following Atiku’s call at a press conference in Abuja for the Federal Government to take measures to reduce petrol prices and ease the rising cost of living.

“The last I checked, the former Vice President is a candidate of a political party for the office of president. He should be telling Nigerians exactly what he plans to do to improve the lives of Nigerians,” Morka said.

He added: “Asking Mr President to listen to him, he is neither here nor there, he is simply just pulling his own political stunts. Atiku Abubakar is not someone who has managed to articulate any sensible position or policy, a proposal as an alternative to what this government has implemented or is implementing, he hasn’t managed to do that.”

Atiku had urged Tinubu to use the remaining months of his administration to reduce petrol prices, arguing that higher energy and transportation costs were worsening the financial pressure on households, workers and businesses.

He also offered to make his policy framework available to the government, saying the administration should implement any measure capable of reducing the cost of living regardless of who proposed it.

“A sensible idea does not become a bad idea because it came from your opponent,” Atiku said.

However, Morka accused the former Vice President of supporting the removal of petrol subsidy during the 2023 presidential campaign before criticising the policy after it was implemented by the Tinubu administration.

Atiku also opposed the planned phase-out of electricity subsidies from 2027, saying households, small businesses and manufacturers were already burdened by high electricity, diesel and alternative power costs.

He argued that the experience with petrol subsidy removal should not be repeated in the electricity sector.

Reacting, Morka questioned Atiku’s record on the power sector during his tenure as Vice President.

He said Atiku had an opportunity to address Nigeria’s electricity challenges while in government but failed to do so, questioning why he was now proposing measures he could not implement when he had the opportunity.