Vice-President Kashim Shettima has questioned former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar’s capacity to manage Nigeria’s economy, using his professional training in sanitation to challenge his suitability for the presidency ahead of the 2027 general election.
Shettima made the remarks on Monday at the Nigerian Economic Summit in Abuja while criticising Atiku’s proposal to restore the petrol subsidy, which the former vice-president has advocated as part of his approach to economic management.
The Vice-President argued that reversing the subsidy removal would undermine efforts to stabilise the economy, accusing Atiku of supporting the policy for political convenience rather than sound economic reasons.
“One of the leading presidential candidates is advocating for the return of the subsidy scheme. He wants us to backslide into penury for political convenience,” Shettima said.
He also questioned Atiku’s professional qualifications, referring to his training at the Kano School of Hygiene as he challenged the former vice-president’s capacity to manage a modern economy.
“I dare to put forward that his skill set — he was trained in sanitation at the Kano School of Hygiene — so he doesn’t have the skill set to govern a modern economy. That’s the painful truth,” he said.
Shettima further questioned Atiku’s understanding of public health and environmental sanitation, invoking the distinction between influenza and Ebola to reinforce his criticism.
“Even his decisions in environmental sanitation, I do not think he can make a distinction between flu and even Ebola,” the Vice-President added.
He urged Nigerians to scrutinise the economic proposals and qualifications of presidential contenders, warning against ignoring the potential consequences of their policy choices.
“Nigerians must have to decide and those of you here cannot afford to play the ostrich,” he said.
The exchange highlights the continuing political disagreement over the removal of petrol subsidy by President Bola Tinubu’s administration in May 2023 and whether the policy should be reversed.
The Federal Government has defended the removal as necessary to ease pressure on public finances, while the resulting increase in petrol prices has contributed to higher living costs for households and businesses.
Atiku’s advocacy for restoring the subsidy has emerged as a point of contention between the opposition and the administration as political parties prepare for the 2027 elections.
Shettima’s remarks place the debate beyond the immediate question of fuel pricing, raising competing arguments over economic management, public welfare and the policy direction Nigeria should pursue.
