Ogunyemi Warns Atiku's Subsidy Plan Could Collapse States

Professor Tunji Ogunyemi of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, criticized Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), for his commitment to reinstating fuel subsidies if elected president in 2027. During an appearance on the Open Forum 360 podcast with Dare Adekanmbi, Ogunyemi stated that such a move would result in the collapse of 15 northern states within three months.

He argued that only four states in Nigeria could survive without federal allocations, emphasizing that reducing revenue to the Federation Account would severely impact state governments' ability to pay salaries and pensions. Ogunyemi outlined four major consequences of reinstating the subsidy: reduced revenue to the Federation Account, incapacity of states to meet salary obligations, inability to support minimum expenditure, and failure to meet debt obligations.

He urged Atiku to clarify the implications of his policy proposal and criticized him for potentially jeopardizing the country’s financial stability for political gain.