Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State has criticized the administration of President Bola Tinubu, expressing surprise and concern regarding its lack of effective planning and response to the removal of fuel subsidies. Obaseki raised the alarm that this removal has led to a deterioration of the financial situation for Nigerians, resulting in increased suffering. The governor shared his perspective during a press conference held in Benin City.
Obaseki did not mince words when he characterized the efforts of the federal government to provide palliatives as deceptive. He reaffirmed his commitment to implementing strategies within his own administration to “assist” the people of Edo State during these challenging times. In contrast, the Katsina State government contradicted claims that it had received N5 billion in palliative aid from the federal government to mitigate the impact of the fuel subsidy removal on its citizens.
Speaking further from Benin City, Governor Obaseki emphasized his prior warnings about the economic mismanagement plaguing the country. He stated that Nigeria’s situation was deteriorating due to misguided policies originating from the central government.
Obaseki’s message was clear: “I have consistently cautioned. During this year’s May Day, I cautioned Nigerians, informing them that we had reached a critical point, and the previous economic order in Nigeria had ended. We needed a new economic approach and could no longer delude ourselves as a nation.” He went on to say, “With the removal of the subsidy and the currency exchange rate adjustment, the era of easy financial gains is nearly over. Unfortunately, the weakest and most marginalized in our society will bear a substantial burden due to these policies.”
Continuing his critique, Obaseki expressed his astonishment at the lack of well-defined plans from those who campaigned across the nation on the promise of subsidy removal. He pointed out their apparent lack of preparation and understanding when it comes to supporting those who will be adversely affected by the removal. The governor voiced concerns about the administration’s seeming absence of a coherent strategy to tackle the consequences of these policy measures.
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