Vice President Kashim Shettima criticises ADC candidate Atiku Abubakar over health knowledge and subsidy policy at Abuja summit

Vice President Kashim Shettima used his platform at the 32nd Nigerian Economic Summit in Abuja on Monday to launch a pointed critique of former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar. Shettima asserted that Atiku, despite having studied sanitation at the Kano School of Hygiene, could not distinguish between Ebola and the flu, and that his proposed return to a petrol‑subsidy regime would set Nigeria back economically.

Speaking to summit attendees, Shettima said Atiku’s comments on Ebola were spreading fear and demonstrated a lack of competence for governing a modern economy. He challenged Atiku to present a skill set suitable for contemporary economic management, describing the former vice‑president’s hygiene training as insufficient for the task.

Background

Atiku Abubakar, a former vice‑president and the ADC’s presidential hopeful for the 2027 election, has campaigned on reinstating Nigeria’s petrol subsidy, a policy that was removed by President Bola Tinubu’s administration. Shettima, who serves as vice‑president under Tinubu, reiterated his support for the president’s decision to scrap the subsidy, describing it as a necessary response to economic realities.

While speaking, Shettima pointed to Atiku’s academic history, specifically mentioning that the former received training in sanitation at the Kano School of Hygiene. He claimed this training did not equip Atiku with the expertise needed to manage a modern economy, and added that Atiku struggled to differentiate between airborne diseases such as flu and COVID‑19 and Ebola, which spreads through human contact.

Daily Post and Daily Trust both covered the address, underscoring Shettima’s focus on Atiku’s supposed failure to differentiate between illnesses and his characterization of the subsidy plan as an attempt to regress Nigeria for political gain.

Why it matters

The exchange underscores the political tension ahead of the 2027 presidential election, with economic policy and public health competence emerging as key campaign issues. Shettima’s defence of Tinubu’s subsidy removal signals continuity in the current administration’s economic strategy, while Atiku’s subsidy pledge remains a focal point for voters concerned about fuel prices and cost‑of‑living pressures.

Public perception of a candidate’s health knowledge can influence confidence in their ability to handle broader crises, especially in a country that has previously grappled with Ebola outbreaks and other infectious diseases. By questioning Atiku’s understanding of disease transmission, Shettima aims to cast doubt on the former vice‑president’s overall readiness for office.

The debate also reflects broader ideological divides: one side advocating market‑driven reforms and fiscal prudence, the other promoting populist measures such as fuel subsidies to alleviate immediate economic hardships.

What happens next

The summit continues to provide a forum for political leaders to outline their economic visions ahead of the 2027 elections. Shettima’s statements are likely to be referenced by the Tinubu administration in defending its fiscal policies, while Atiku’s campaign may need to address the accusations regarding his health expertise and subsidy plan. No further official responses from Atiku or the ADC were reported in the sources, leaving the next public exchange open.

The political discourse will intensify as parties solidify their platforms, and voters will assess the competing narratives on economic management and public‑health competence as the election approaches.