Fayemi Blasts Atiku: “Your Subsidy Promise Is Just Like APC’s Muslim-Muslim Ticket — A Political Gimmick”

Former Ekiti Governor accuses PDP flagbearer of using fuel subsidy pledge as a desperate vote-buying strategy ahead of 2023 elections

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Former Ekiti State Governor and staunch APC chieftain, Kayode Fayemi, has fired shots at Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, describing his fuel subsidy promise as nothing more than a clever political smokescreen — the kind Nigerians have seen one too many times.

Fayemi, who never minces words when it comes to political analysis, drew a striking parallel between Atiku’s subsidy pledge and the controversial Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket adopted by the All Progressives Congress (APC) — a move that stirred serious debate across the country ahead of the 2023 general elections.

“We’ve Seen This Play Before”

According to Fayemi, just as the APC’s same-faith ticket was designed to appeal to a specific bloc of voters and consolidate political support, Atiku’s promise to retain or restore fuel subsidy is nothing but a calculated attempt to win the hearts — and more importantly, the votes — of ordinary Nigerians still grappling with the harsh economic realities of daily life.

In other words, the former governor is essentially telling Nigerians: “Don’t be deceived. This is politics, not policy.”

For millions of Nigerians who queue endlessly at petrol stations and feel every naira increase at the pump, the fuel subsidy debate is not abstract — it is deeply personal. And politicians know this. That is precisely why, Fayemi argues, Atiku is dangling the subsidy carrot before voters.

The Subsidy Debate: A Hot-Button Issue for Nigerians

Let’s be honest — fuel subsidy is one of those topics that can make or break a Nigerian politician. Mention removing it, and you might as well be telling a market woman in Onitsha or a bus driver in Lagos that her suffering doesn’t matter. Promise to keep it, and suddenly you’re the people’s champion.

But economists and policy experts have long argued that the subsidy regime — which gulps hundreds of billions of naira annually from Nigeria’s treasury — is unsustainable and riddled with corruption. The big question has always been: who truly benefits?

Fayemi’s comments suggest that Atiku knows exactly what he is doing by making this promise, and that the intention is less about genuine economic policy and more about scoring cheap political points.

Political Gimmicks or Genuine Promises?

Nigerians have heard many promises at election time — from power supply fixes to job creation, to security overhauls that never quite materialize after inauguration day. The Muslim-Muslim ticket controversy itself showed how political calculations can override national sensitivities when the prize is power.

Fayemi’s comparison is sharp and deliberate. He is essentially placing Atiku’s subsidy pledge in the same category as a move that many Nigerians viewed as politically divisive and strategically self-serving.

Whether you agree with Fayemi or not, one thing is clear: as the 2023 elections draw closer, Nigerians must look beyond the promises and ask the harder questions — Who has a realistic, workable plan? And who is simply telling us what we want to hear?

Because come February, it won’t be the politicians standing in the fuel queue. It will be us.

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What do you think? Is Atiku’s subsidy promise a genuine commitment or a political strategy? Drop your thoughts in the comments below.

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