The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has joined the wave of criticism trailing President Bola Tinubu’s approach on fuel subsidy removal.

Tinubu, in his inaugural speech last Monday, declared that “fuel subsidy is gone”.

The decision was first taken by former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2022, and the move received the backing of Tinubu, Atiku, and several other 2023 presidential candidates, who sought to end the funds-guzzling subsidy regime if elected.

But speaking on Saturday in Bauchi State addressing PDP officials elected in the recent polls, Atiku kicked against the decision which some have described as a knee-jerk policy action.

“Between 1999 and 2007, the PDP government initiated the petroleum subsidy removal and I chaired the committee. We achieved subsidy removal in two phases but only after providing palliatives to those most affected by the subsidy removal,” the former Vice President said.

“We have the experience as a party in government. That is what we would have done and not just announced subsidy removal without discussion with the affected sectors of the economy. I think Nigerians should appreciate what they have temporarily lost.”