In contemporary digital age, leaders that would want people to take them seriously, should not be oblivious of the fact that the Internet never forgets. While it was very easy for leaders to double speak on the same issue at different intervals in the First and Second Republics of Nigeria, which basically were an analogue age, it has become ridiculously unacceptable for such to be done presently because the Inernet does not only record but reserves and will always be willing and available to reproduce whatever leaders had said.
On Friday (Afor) 22nd July, 2022, in a prominent interview on Arise Television anchored by both Dr Reuben Abati, and Tundun Abiola, Esq, former Vice President of Nigeria, 1999-2007, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, who was the Presidential Candidate of Peoples Democratic Party, did state that if he was elected as President in 2023, he would ‘eliminate Petroleum Subsidy because it drained public resources’.
The same Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, probably being oblivious of the fact that the Internet never forgets, sharply and unfortunately contradicted himself when he granted another interview on Thursday (Eke) 20th August, 2026, stating that if he wins presidential election in 2027, he would restore fuel subsidy that already, like he had advocated in 2022, has been removed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.
If Alhaji Atiku Abubakar claims he does not know where the money removed from fuel subsidy is deployed, he could ask the Governor of Adamawa State where he comes from, His Excellency, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, what is the source of astronomical increase in the revenue allocation to the State from Federal Accounts Allocation Committee, FAAC, since Senator Tinubu was elected President of Nigeria.
Every crtically-minded Nigerian elite knows that Alhaji Atiku Abubakar is bent on becoming President of Nigeria but that should not give rise to a man of his status to speak from both sides of his mouth. He should know that what defines a man is stability of character. Advocating for removal of Fuel Subsidy in 2022, but propagating for its restoration in 2026 does not portray him as a stable character. It, rather, projects him as a politician desperate for power. He should, as much as possible, taking into consideration the height he has attained as a former Vice President of Nigeria, not give Nigerians room to dismiss him as being politically hungry, and economically ignorant.
Sir Don Ubani is a former Commissioner for Information and Strategy in Abia State, and Publisher of Equity Global Reporters Ltd.
Friday (Orie) 21-08-2026.
