Presidency slams Atiku over ‘dull student’ dig on petrol discount
President Bola Tinubu
Abdullateef Fowewe
Dada Olusegun, Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Social Media has rebuked former Vice President Atiku Abubakar for describing the president as a “dull student” who poorly copied his economic ideas, following the federal government’s announcement of a temporary petrol discount.
In a statement shared on X, the Special Assistant to the President on Social Media and National Convener of the PBAT Media Centre, dismissed Atiku’s criticism as “another case of self-aggrandisement from an individual who lacks self-awareness of any sort.”
“No one copies from a serial loser, especially not this President, who has won every election he has participated in on the very first attempt,” he wrote.
The exchange centres on the Federal Government’s recent announcement of a 30-day petrol discount at NNPC Limited retail outlets, with priority for public transporters.
Atiku had accused the administration of borrowing his earlier proposal for production subsidies but reducing it to a short-term “gesture,” comparing Tinubu to a student who copied an exam answer without understanding it.
Olusegun rejected the claim, arguing that Atiku’s suggestions “are waiting for him in the abyss of neglect.”
He challenged the former vice president to wait a few weeks and answer key questions if he believes subsidies have been reintroduced, “Who is paying for the subsidies, and how much has it cost the national purse so far? How has it affected our daily crude production…?”
The aide also highlighted what he called inconsistency in Atiku’s remarks about the president’s age. He noted that Atiku had recently claimed Tinubu is 91 years old while at other times addressing him as a younger brother.
“Alhaji must pull his thoughts together so we can know exactly what he believes by acting with a little bit of consistency,” he said.
He concluded by affirming that the administration would not be derailed, “Nigeria keeps forging ahead. This journey of Renewed Hope must and will be completed by 2031, and President Tinubu will lead us into the promised land.”
Recall that the 30-day discount was announced by Finance Minister Taiwo Oyedele as a temporary measure focused on public transporters.
Atiku, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate for the 2027 election, had previously advocated targeted production support tied to locally refined fuel.
He argued the government’s version stripped away the elements that would make such a policy effective and sustainable, questioning what would happen after the 30 days expired.
