I’ll restore fuel subsidy if elected President in 2027 — Kachikwu

I’ll restore fuel subsidy if elected President in 2027 — Kachikwu

Presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the 2023 elections, Mr. Dumebi Kachikwu, has vowed to restore fuel subsidy if elected president in 2027.

According to him, it is unjust for ordinary Nigerians to suffer due to the government’s inability to manage the system effectively.

In an interview, Kachikwu also said failed elite politicians are regrouping to take over the ADC, warning such political figures ahead of 2027 to “look elsewhere”.

Addressing the contentious issue of subsidy removal, Kachikwu criticised how the policy was handled and pledged to reinstate it if elected.

“Any oil-producing nation should be providing fuel subsidies to her citizens. It’s wrong that poor Nigerians pay the price for our government’s failure.”

He clarified that the removal of the subsidy was actually initiated by President Buhari, not Tinubu:

“Tinubu didn’t remove the fuel subsidy. Buhari did, by not making budgetary provision for it. Tinubu only announced it. But either way, we handled it poorly. We should have gone after the abusers, not punish the people.”

“The British left us with a banana peel. They gave us a geographical expression, not a country. From the beginning, we saw ourselves through the lenses of tribe, tongue, religion, and region—not as a nation.”

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Kachikwu believes any meaningful progress must begin with national cohesion, healing deep divisions worsened by recent elections.

“If I were President Tinubu, I would have focused on healing the nation. That election was one of the most divisive in Nigeria’s history, but instead of uniting the country, he continued the same pattern of nepotism.”

He promised, if elected, to address all forms of inequity, injustice, and systemic imbalance across the nation.

“We must sit at a round table and have the difficult conversations. The problem is not addressing these issues. Each president rewards his people because the previous one did. That cycle must end.”

Kachikwu accused seasoned politicians from other parties of trying to hijack the ADC to pursue their ambitions after failing Nigerians repeatedly.

“These are people who’ve been governors, ministers, vice presidents. They’re a crowd of ‘formers’. They have nothing new to offer. We can’t ask those who destroyed Nigeria to now save Nigeria.”

He added, “There is no room for Atiku in the ADC. He should go and rest. He’s had his chance and failed to rescue Nigerians from poverty and pain.”

On his vision for national leadership, Kachikwu said Nigeria’s persistent failure stems from foundational flaws inherited from colonial rule.

Despite internal challenges, including protracted legal battles, Kachikwu insisted he remained fully active in the party and would contest again as the ADC’s presidential candidate in 2027.

“I’m not afraid of them. They’ll realize ADC is not a dirty platform for their style of politics. Let them go and register their own party.”

Kachikwu reiterated that the 2027 presidential race should remain within the South, citing fairness and political balance.

“When it was the North’s turn, the South respected that. Now it’s our turn. If anyone wants to challenge Tinubu, it should be a Southerner. Atiku should step aside.”

On how he would govern differently, Kachikwu emphasized inclusive leadership, national dialogue, and merit-based appointments, challenging the current norm of regional favoritism.

“We must stop governing for a few privileged people. Once you take care of everybody, your own people are included in that. Let’s stop this ‘our people first’ mentality.”

I’ll restore fuel subsidy if elected President in 2027 — Kachikwu