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Peter Obi reiterates his stand on fuel subsidy removal.

Published

11 months ago

June 7, 2023

Stella Charles Akupue

Peter Obi reiterates his stand on fuel subsidy removal.

The Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, reiterated his position that the management of the fuel subsidy regime in Nigeria had become an “organized crime” that permits the stealing of the country’s resources.

On Tuesday, Obi spoke to journalists in Abuja on the sidelines of the ongoing hearing of his petitions challenging the February 25 presidential election at the Presidential Election Petitions Court.

He stressed his determination to remove fuel subsidies and introduce a new open and transparent system that carries the people along.

He said he had shown consistently since serving in former President Goodluck Jonathan’s economic management team, by using empirical data, that the Premium Motor Spirit PMS purportedly consumed by Nigerians was far more than what is supposed to be when compared to other countries like Pakistan.

Peter Obi reiterates his stand on fuel subsidy removal.

Obi said that he had enumerated the conditions precedent to removing the subsidy in his manifesto while campaigning for the president’s office.

He said, “Throughout my campaigns, go and check my manifesto; I had maintained this about its removal.

“If you have a toothache and go to a dentist, there is a difference between removing your tooth by applying anaesthesia, which will ameliorate your pains, and pulling it out.

“The difference is that I believe it should be removed with conditions and that conditions have to be applied.”

Obi believes, “If I was involved, I had to show in empirical, statistical data how much we are going to save, where we are going to apply it and the gains for the people.”

He added, “Just like I said throughout my campaigns, that I am going to govern the people by being open, showing them empirical, verifiable facts on how the country can be better – that is what I would have done.

“There are things you need to do. When Jonathan was about to remove it, they created SURE-P as part of the conditions.

Nigerian workers are hardworking- Peter Obi.

Sanwo-Olu Cautions Oil Marketers.

“The reason Nigerians are agitating is that when people say let’s go and suffer, let’s go and sacrifice, they don’t see the effects of the sacrifice, and to do it in an organized manner where people can see in a verifiable plan.

“I did a lot of similar things when I was a governor in Anambra State, stopping this to do this, and each one I showed the people in a verifiable manner where we are going land.

“Governance shouldn’t be supply-driven; it should be demand-driven; you govern with the people. Let the people know what you are doing and explain it clearly, and they will believe you.” Obi explained.

By Salihu Ali.