By Dipo Olowookere
The vice-presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the 2027 general elections, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, has promised to step down as the running mate of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to campaign for President Bola Tinubu if the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), otherwise known as petrol, falls to N600 per litre.
He made this pledge during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday night.
The former Governor of Rivers State said Mr Tinubu, who seeks a second term in office under the ruling government of the All Progressives Congress (APC), which he once belonged to, has failed Nigerians, making citizens go through hard times.
He disclosed that Nigerians only have one choice to make in the January 16, 2027, presidential election because a victory for the APC could mean death.
The former Minister of Transportation said the administration of President Tinubu has bastardised the nation’s economy, citing high energy and transport costs as evidence to show for this, vowing to quit the race if the price of fuel falls to N600 per litre.
“I will resign as VP candidate if the price of petrol is N600 per litre tomorrow. This is my promise,” the Dan Amanar Daura title holder said on the programme, monitored by Business Post.
PMS currently sells between N1,350 and N1,400 per litre in Nigeria as a result of the hike in crude oil on the global market. The commodity sells above $100 per barrel due to the Middle East crisis.
Prices of goods and services rose in Nigeria after President Tinubu announced the removal of the fuel subsidy during his inauguration on May 29, 2023. This skyrocketed the pump price from less than N200 per litre to the current level.
Nigeria has not been able to revive its four refineries located in Rivers, Kaduna, and Delta States. The country has heavily relied on Dangote Refinery and the importation of petrol to meet local consumption.
Mr Amaechi stressed that if Nigerians elect Mr Atiku next year, the government would introduce a crude oil production subsidy to allow citizens to buy petrol at lower prices.
