Abiodun: Governors, not Tinubu, should account for subsidy gains

Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun has argued that state governors, not President Bola Tinubu, should be held accountable for the use of funds generated from the removal of petrol subsidy. Abiodun made the statement during an All Progressives Congress (APC) rally in Ogun, responding to opposition politicians' criticism over how the additional revenue, resulting from the subsidy removal, is being utilized.

He contended that it was inappropriate to assign responsibility for managing the gains to Tinubu, as state governments are the ones receiving increased allocations from the Federation Account. Abiodun asserted that governors have been leveraging the extra funds to finance infrastructure and development projects across their respective states.

He expressed confusion at opposition calls to return the subsidy, questioning the logic behind asking the nation's leader to explain how the gains from subsidy removal were spent. Abiodun further criticized opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general elections, confidently predicting an APC victory. The controversy surrounding the management of funds from subsidy removal has become a focal point in political discussions in recent weeks.

Presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has also criticized the Tinubu administration for failing to account for the savings generated by the removal of the subsidy, stating that he would restore the petrol subsidy if elected in 2027. Tinubu, however, dismissed the proposal as an indication of "serious ignorance of governance and economy," suggesting that some state governments were struggling with worker salaries and pensions before his administration.