Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the previous presidential election, has expressed his support for President Bola Tinubu’s decision to remove fuel subsidies.
Tinubu, in his inaugural speech on May 29, 2023, boldly declared the end of fuel subsidies, which resulted in an immediate increase in petroleum product prices.
Taking to his official Twitter page, on Tuesday after attending the ongoing case he filed against Tinubu at the presidential tribunal, Obi recounted an incident where judicial correspondents confronted him at the entrance of the court and demanded his comments.
Initially refusing to speak on the matter before the court, the correspondents persisted, urging him to address his alleged support for the subsidy removal, as claimed by government representatives.
Obi, on his Twitter handle, said “Reacting, I told them that I’ve actually been in support of the removal of subsidies right from the President Goodluck Jonathan era when I was a member of the Economic Management team.
“If you have followed me very well right from the time I was a member of Jonathan’s economic management team, I consistently maintained that subsidy should be removed because I see it as organized crime.
Obi continued, “People were just stealing the resources of the country and I showed it empirically in my statistical analysis that we were not consuming the amount of fuel they claimed we consumed.”
“I also gave them the “tooth pain” removal analogy that if you approach a dentist to remove a painful tooth, he will apply a local anesthetic to numb the area around the tooth so you do not feel pain.
“It’s not the same thing as pulling the tooth forcefully, the pain you feel will be different. For me, I will go with the approach of the dentist, while supporting the removal of the tooth because I wouldn’t want to go through the pain of a forceful removal.
“Recall that even when Jonathan’s government wanted to remove it they came up with various relieving policies like Sure-P and others.
“If you read my manifesto you will see clearly how I planned to remove subsidies. I will govern with the people and show them statistically and empirically what we are going to save, and what we are going to do using the savings to better the suffering masses.
“The problem in Nigeria is that often government tell the masses to suffer and sacrifice, for a better future; but in future things gets worse.”
See Peter Obi’s tweet below:
As I attended my ongoing petition case at the Court of Appeal today, Tuesday, June 6, 2023, judicial correspondents ambushed me at the entrance of the court and demanded that I should talk to them. pic.twitter.com/iYwRJ1ESD3
— Peter Obi (@PeterObi) June 6, 2023
When I told them I don't speak on the matter before the court, they insisted that I should comment on the subsidy removal, which the government representatives were touting that I am in support of.
— Peter Obi (@PeterObi) June 6, 2023
Reacting, I told them that I've actually been in support of the removal of subsidies right from the President Goodluck Jonathan era, when I was a member of the Economic Management team.
— Peter Obi (@PeterObi) June 6, 2023
If you have followed me very well right from the time I was a member of Jonathan’s economic management team, I consistently maintained that subsidy should be removed because I see it as organized crime.
— Peter Obi (@PeterObi) June 6, 2023
People were just stealing the resources of the country and I showed it empirically in my statistical analysis that we were not consuming the amount of fuel they claimed we consumed.
— Peter Obi (@PeterObi) June 6, 2023
I also gave them the "tooth pain" removal analogy that if you approach a dentist to remove a painful tooth, he will apply a local anesthetic to numb the area around the tooth so you do not feel pain. It's not the same thing as pulling the tooth forcefully,
— Peter Obi (@PeterObi) June 6, 2023
the pain you feel will be different. For me, I will go with the approach of the dentist, while supporting the removal of the tooth because I wouldn't want to go through the pain of a forceful removal.
— Peter Obi (@PeterObi) June 6, 2023
Recall that even when Jonathan's government wanted to remove it they came up with various relieving policies like Sure-P and others.
— Peter Obi (@PeterObi) June 6, 2023
If you read my manifesto you will see clearly how I planned to remove subsidies. I will govern with the people and show them statistically and empirically what we are going to save, and what we are going to do using the savings to better the suffering masses.
— Peter Obi (@PeterObi) June 6, 2023
The problem in Nigeria is that often government tell the masses to suffer and sacrifice, for a better future; but in future things gets worse. -PO
— Peter Obi (@PeterObi) June 6, 2023
This statement by Peter Obi showcases his longstanding support for the removal of fuel subsidies and provides insights into his views on the matter, shedding light on his position in relation to President Bola Tinubu’s recent decision.
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