Former Governor of Ekiti State and former Minister of Solid Minerals, Dr Kayode Fayemi, has described former Vice-President, now African Democratic Congress’ presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar’s pledge to restore fuel subsidy as a political strategy rather than an economic solution, arguing that it seeks to capitalise on the hardship Nigerians have faced since the subsidy was removed.
Speaking in an interview with ARISE NEWS on Monday, Fayemi maintained that he remains an advocate of fuel subsidy removal, stressing that his concern was with the manner it was implemented and the failure to fully deploy measures to cushion its impact on vulnerable Nigerians.
“Frankly, my take on that is that the Atiku proposal on subsidy is the political equivalent of our own Muslim-Muslim ticket in 2023. It’s a political strategy; it’s not an economic construct. I think the way we saw the Muslim-Muslim ticket as a political strategy in order to maximize the vote for our party in 2023, I believe that’s what the opposition candidate is also trying to take advantage of.
“I was and I remain an advocate of fuel subsidy removal. The only challenge I had with it was the way it was done. So, I am not in any way opposed to the decision to remove fuel subsidy.
“However, as I’ve also consistently said—because at the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, we actually had a committee work with the Federal Government and the World Bank, by the way, to develop a safety net strategy that would address what would happen to the most vulnerable segment of our population. That’s what fell through.”
Speaking on the emerging opposition alliances ahead of 2027, Fayemi described them as a temporary political coalition, saying they must develop a clear, issue-driven roadmap that offers Nigerians a credible alternative to the APC.
“I see it still as a temporary coalition of a political project. It could become more organic by developing a roadmap, and that’s why I think the way the public responded to the proposal—it doesn’t matter whichever side of it that you belong to; I am not pro-removal of subsidy—but the reaction of the Nigerian populace gives a very clear indication of what they’d like to see: an issue-driven campaign that focuses on what the alternative plan would be if you don’t want them to follow the APC.”
Calling for better perception management by the APC and the government amid economic hardship, Fayemi said officials must demonstrate frugality, warning that perceived extravagance could deepen public cynicism over the economic reforms.
“We need to do better perception management as a party and as a government. And it may not be the fault of the principal. The President is not displaying frivolous wealth or misbehaving in any manner, shape, or form. But that’s not something that you may say of some of the elements in the administration. So, he may have a duty to call some of his people to order.
“And as a party, it’s something that we need to—we were supposed to be the frugal party, the Buhari party: ascetic, frugal, prudent, focused on effective management of the limited resources, because resources will always be limited. It will never be enough. And when people don’t see a perception of frugality in the economic reform agenda, they tend to become more cynical about what we claim we’re doing.”
Addressing Nigeria’s place in an increasingly competitive global order, the former minister said the country must first rebuild its influence at home and in the West African sub-region to exercise meaningful leverage internationally, while pursuing a foreign policy anchored on national interest, African unity, regional integration and global peace.
“You cannot project power externally without ensuring that charity begins at home.
“Again, a genuinely Nigerian foreign policy should go back to the Nigerian foreign policy objectives that I spoke about earlier. The Akinyemi Doctrine in 1986 spoke about three primary strands of that foreign policy objective: driven by national interest—so, what is our national interest?—driven by our commitment to African unity and regional integration, and driven by our commitment to global peace.
“That’s why, for example, in our concentric circle, we need to take charge back at home in the West African sub-region.”
He also advocated prioritising economic diplomacy and proposed a trilateral commission involving Nigeria, China and the United States as a framework for advancing Nigeria’s strategic interests.
“I argued in my paper that maybe it’s time for a trilateral commission: Nigeria, China, United States.”
Ahead of the 2027 elections, Fayemi urged whoever emerges victorious to make African unity and leadership a foundational priority, with Nigeria leading efforts to advance the “Africa We Want” Agenda 2063.
“I think Nigeria has to lead the charge to unite Africa and drive the process of the ‘Africa We Want’ 😭Agenda 2063. And that cannot just be done rhetorically. I mean, the notion that African heads of state have to go to China—54 of them—to have a meeting with Xi Jinping, or go to Washington, D.C., or go to whichever country, Korea or wherever it is, really diminishes us.
“What is our own agenda? Let’s define it amongst ourselves. And if we have defined it, what are the anchor countries that will drive that process? Obasanjo, Thabo Mbeki, Abdoulaye Wade, Meles Zenawi, and Abdelaziz Bouteflika did that with the New Partnership for Africa’s Development 20 years ago—NEPAD—and the APRM. And the G7 countries would never do anything without deferring to them. I think it’s back to that. That’s where leadership comes into the picture again.”
Favour Odima
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