Former Ogun State Governor, Olusegun Osoba, explained his characterization of President Bola Tinubu as a hero for removing the subsidy on petroleum.
Speaking on Arise TV’s Morning Show, Osoba responded to a question about whether he considered former President Goodluck Jonathan a hero for previously removing the subsidy before its reversal.
Osoba refrained from providing a definitive answer but highlighted the context during Jonathan’s tenure, stating, “At that time, the subsidy was minimal, and what we were saying then was that they should tackle the corruption.”
He went on to emphasize that corruption in the subsidy system had escalated, involving round-tripping, making it a more significant issue than before.
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Acknowledging his respect for Jonathan as a “gentleman president,” Osoba indicated that the corruption in the subsidy system during Jonathan’s administration had surpassed previous levels.
He did not explicitly label Jonathan as a hero for removing the subsidy but emphasized the need to address corruption in the system.
President Bola Tinubu recently announced the removal of fuel subsidies in Nigeria during his inaugural speech on May 29, citing budgetary concerns.
The issue of fuel subsidy removal has been a subject of policy changes and debates in Nigeria, with various leaders making decisions based on economic considerations.
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