The Labour Party presidential candidate made the statement during an interview with News Central TV, which aired on Wednesday.
Peter Obi of the Labour Party, LP, has criticized President Bola Tinubu’s administration over the manner it handled the subsidy removal reforms.
Obi said, “I’ve said it before, we have to show what is being removed and where it is being applied. You don’t know what the subsidy is today. You don’t know.”
“What they are saying is that petrol subsidy is gone. Electricity subsidy is gone. In fact, soon they will remove the subsidy on air. If they had the chance, they would charge us for air. We are not saying we will not do that. But tell us where it is going.”
The removal of fuel subsidy triggered an avalanche of economic hardships for the average Nigerian.
The decision, which was aimed at promoting efficiency and deregulating the sector, has instead exacerbated the cost of living and burdened Nigerians with unbearable fuel prices.
Millions of citizens are struggling to cope with the skyrocketing cost of goods and services, which are directly linked to the high price of petrol.
The citizens have on several occasions protested the hardship with the last tagged #EndBadGovernanceinNigeria held between August 1 to 10.
The protests turned violent in some states, including Kano, Abuja, and Kaduna, where demonstrators believed to be infiltrators were seen waving Russian flags and calling for a military takeover.
But Tinubu pleaded with Nigerians to be patient with his administration, assuring them that the country is transitioning from darkness to dawn.
While acknowledging the ongoing hardships orchestrated by the removal of the fuel subsidy and the floating of the naira, he noted that Nigerians’ pain was compounded by what he described as an “avoidable lag” between the subsidy removal and his helpful plans for the country.
He said, “Fellow Nigerians, this period may be hard on us and there’s no doubt that it is tough, but I urge you all to look beyond the present temporary pains and aim at the larger picture.
All our good and helpful plans are in the works. More importantly, I know that they will work. Sadly, there was an avoidable lag between subsidy removal and these plans coming fully online.
“I plead with you, please have faith in our ability to deliver and our concern for your well-being. We will get out of this turbulence, and due to the measures we have taken, Nigeria will be better equipped and able to take advantage of the future that awaits her.
“For example, we shall fulfil our promise to make education more affordable to all and provide loans to higher education students who may need them. No Nigerian student will have to abandon higher education due to lack of money.
“Our commitment is to promote the greatest good for the greatest number of our people. On principle, we shall never falter. I assure you, my fellow countrymen and women, that we are exiting the darkness to enter a new and glorious dawn. Now, I must get back to work in order to make this vision come true.”
The president assured that the measures his government has taken would get the country out of the lingering economic crisis.
“I plead with you, please have faith in our ability to deliver and our concern for your well-being. We will get out of this turbulence, and due to the measures we have taken, Nigeria will be better equipped and able to take advantage of the future that awaits her.
“For example, we shall fulfil our promise to make education more affordable to all and provide loans to higher education students who may need them. No Nigerian student will have to abandon higher education due to lack of money.
“Our commitment is to promote the greatest good for the greatest number of our people. On principle, we shall never falter. I assure you, my fellow countrymen and women, that we are exiting the darkness to enter a new and glorious dawn. Now, I must get back to work in order to make this vision come true.”
The president assured that the measures his government has taken would get the country out of the lingering economic crisis.
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