Obi Supports Fuel Subsidy Removal, Disagrees with Atiku

On May 29, 2023, President Bola Tinubu announced the removal of fuel subsidies, stating that “subsidy is gone.” This decision led to a significant rise in prices of commodities and transportation, eliciting mixed reactions among Nigerians. Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), recently expressed his intention to restore the subsidy if elected in 2027, arguing that its removal has not improved the lives of Nigerians.

In contrast, Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, disagreed with Atiku during a conference organized by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Port Harcourt. Obi stated that the mismanagement of the proceeds from subsidy removal should not justify reversing the policy.

He argued for the need to provide Nigerians with alternative benefits from the resources saved, criticizing the current administration for failing to utilize these gains effectively. Obi highlighted the poor state of healthcare in Nigeria and emphasized the importance of investing recovered funds for the benefit of all Nigerians.