By Bassey Asuquo
The Democratic Front (TDF) has rejected the attempt by the Presidential Candidate candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Atiku Abubakar to mock President Bola Tinubu’s $1 bilion social protection initiative as a response to his plan to restore fuel subsidy.
In a statement signed by its Chairman Danjuma Muhammad and Secretary Wale Adedayo, argued that it was absurd to compare Atiku’s proposal to President Tinubu’s rolling plan policy to alleviate poverty in the country.
TDF said, “It amounts to lack of presentable blueprint for alternative economic policies, that can compare to the ongoing reforms in Nigeria, for former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to hinge his political campaign on a short-sighted and impracticable proposition on fuel subsidy.
“For us, Atiku Abubakar and his media handlers displayed a lack of knowledge and adequate information about President Tinubu’s political campaign history, when they accused the President of activating a $1 billion social protection funds, as a jittery response to Atiku’s promise to reintroduce fuel subsidy.
“Unlike former Vice President’s hurriedly packaged knee-jerk and impracticable subsidy proposal which is aimed at promoting his 2027 presidential ambition, President Tinubu’s social protection initiative is neither accidental, nor an after-thought.
“It is an integral part of the “BAT Manifesto” for 2023 elections contained in an 80 page policy document, which was unveiled on the same day with Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) inauguration by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in October 2023.
“The ADC presidential candidate and his media handlers should be reminded that the President’s cash transfer initiative, through which N75,000 each was disbursed to 15 million vulnerable households in different tranches over a designated period of time, was aimed at cushioning the harsh effects of inflation and rising cost of transportation on the masses.
“And it was implemented in 2023, years before Atiku presented his convoluted and incoherent subsidy plans. The disbursement was successfully coordinated by the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA).
The implementation of that initiative back then is a confirmation that the $1bn social protection programme is a continuation of President Tinubu’s long-standing commitment and efforts to make life more bearable for Nigerians, under the current local and global economic realities.
“Furthermore, we note that Atiku’s revisionism on public policies and governance has exposed his hypocrisy and bereftness to global and domestic issues that directly relates to public administration and economics.
“Atiku Abubakar’s U-turn on fuel subsidy has revealed his desperation and innate willingness to compromise any value or principle, to achieve his personal political ambition.”
TDF urge Nigerians to vote massively against the former Vice President for daring to push a policy that is against national interest.
End