“ Atiku’s Subsidy Proposal Will Take Nigeria ‘Back to Egypt’,” Says Showunmi

Otunba Segun Showunmi, Chief Promoter of the Alternative Movement, has rejected former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar’s proposal to restore petrol subsidy if elected president in 2027, arguing that such a move would reverse the economic direction Nigeria has taken.

Showunmi made the remarks in Abeokuta, Ogun State, during a sensitisation and mobilisation programme held in support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election campaign.

Atiku, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for the 2027 election, has advocated the restoration of petrol subsidy, arguing that Nigerians should benefit from the country’s resources and that the removal of the subsidy has contributed to worsening living conditions.

But Showunmi said Nigeria’s experience with subsidy over several decades should discourage any attempt to return to the policy.

‘Forward ever, backward never’

According to Showunmi, Nigeria has had decades to assess the impact of petrol subsidy, yet the policy did not produce the outcomes expected by its proponents.

“We have tried subsidies in this country. We started starting it from 1973. And between 1973 and date, we have seen the result. If it had worked, wouldn’t we have seen it?” he asked.

He also referenced the country’s long-running difficulties with its refineries, contrasting the situation with the emergence of privately operated refining capacity.

“We have seen that nothing has worked. They couldn’t even repair a refinery for so many years. And one private sector person has run a refinery.”

Describing advocates of a return to subsidy as “overtly and inordinately ambitious,” Showunmi insisted that Nigeria should not reverse course.

“We will never return back to Egypt,” he said.

“Forward ever, backward never.”

Showunmi defends Tinubu’s economic direction

Showunmi said he had spent the past year publicly defending the economic policies of the Tinubu administration, maintaining that the government’s current direction should be given time to produce results.

“If you have been following me, and I know you have, for the past one year, I have been screaming and shouting that the economic direction, the policy ideas, and the things that the President Bola Tinubu is doing, is the right direction for the country,” he said.

He further pointed to what he described as increased government revenue across the three levels of government.

“Now you have gotten to the point where there’s money in the local government, there’s money in the state, there’s money in the federal,” he said.

Calls for continuity

The Alternative Movement promoter also argued that frequent changes in political leadership could make it difficult for governments to implement long-term economic policies.

“We cannot be changing leadership every four years. Democracy is very difficult, and the ability to be able to even run policy requires a bit of time,” he said.

His comments come as economic policy, petrol pricing and the future of subsidy remain significant issues in the political debate ahead of the 2027 presidential election. (The Cabal News)

Grassroots mobilisation begins

Beyond his criticism of Atiku’s subsidy proposal, Showunmi announced that he had commenced grassroots mobilisation ahead of the 2027 election.

He said his supporters had been tasked with beginning work at the polling-unit level, with plans to subsequently expand the mobilisation across the six local government areas in Ogun Central.

“I’ve empowered them, I’ve told them to enter the polling unit and start the polling unit work,” he said.

He added:

“Thereafter, I’m going to go to each of the six local governments in Ogun Central.

“We are not social media politicians. We are not television politicians. I am a grassroots politician through and through.”

Showunmi dismisses opposition to Tinubu

Addressing politicians from the South who are positioning themselves against Tinubu ahead of the 2027 election, Showunmi said he was not concerned about their activities.

“You will never see the moon and the star come out when the sun is out.

“Anybody, especially from Yoruba nation, who is calling himself anything, when the sun is out, is wasting the time,” he said.

He further criticised those seeking to challenge Tinubu, saying:

“Anyone who says he is going to be running up and down television, deceiving himself, wasting the little resources he has, claiming that he can win presidency here, he is a joker.”

“This election is Bola Tinubu’s election to win.”

Appeals to Yoruba voters

Showunmi also called on voters in the South-West to mobilise support for Tinubu, warning against a situation in which northern regions record more votes for the President than the South-West.

“I have come home to beg the Yoruba people that you will not be ashamed,” he said.

“Because when the election is over, and the people of North-East, and the people of North-west, and the people of North-central produce more votes than you, then where will you put your face?”

“Therefore, it is time to work now. We are back to 2003.”

Showunmi’s comments form part of his ongoing mobilisation efforts for Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential election.