Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress, NDC, has disagreed with African Democratic Congress, ADC, presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, over plans to restore fuel subsidy if elected president in 2027.
Obi made his position known during a panel session at the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, conference held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Atiku, who had supported the removal of fuel subsidy during the 2023 presidential election campaign, recently indicated that he would bring back the subsidy if he wins the 2027 presidential election.
However, Obi maintained that removing the subsidy was necessary, arguing that the major problem was how the funds saved from the policy had been managed.
He accused the Federal Government of mismanaging the resources generated from subsidy removal but insisted that poor management should not be used as a reason to restore the policy.
According to him, the funds saved should have been properly invested in projects and programmes that would directly benefit Nigerians and reduce the hardship caused by higher petrol prices.
Obi said his position on the issue had been clearly stated in his manifesto ahead of the 2023 presidential election, noting that he had proposed an organised approach to subsidy removal and the proper investment of the savings.
He said the government should have provided Nigerians with visible alternatives and improvements in critical sectors after ending the subsidy.
President Bola Tinubu removed the petrol subsidy shortly after assuming office in May 2023, a decision that led to a significant increase in fuel prices and contributed to rising living costs.
Meanwhile, other presidential hopefuls also expressed differing views on security, policing, the economy and government policies during the NBA conference.
Former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, said Nigeria’s economy could be improved through massive job creation, increased local production and policies designed to boost the incomes of citizens.
Amaechi also said an Atiku-Amaechi administration would ensure a fair distribution of political appointments across the country.
On his part, African Action Congress, AAC, presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, called for a change in government, arguing that Nigeria’s security challenges could not be effectively addressed under the current administration.
Sowore also criticised the way fuel subsidy had been managed over the years, claiming that the policy largely benefited the political elite.
Social Democratic Party, SDP, presidential candidate, Adewale Adebayo, advocated a three-tier policing system involving the federal, state and local governments.
Former Cross River State Governor, Donald Duke, said Nigeria’s major challenge remained leadership, arguing that progress in other sectors would follow if the country got its leadership right.
Also speaking at the event, the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, defended the Federal Government’s move towards state police, saying the proposed reforms were aimed at addressing weaknesses in the existing centralised policing system.
He stressed the need for institutional safeguards to prevent governors from abusing state police against political opponents.
The NBA conference provided a major platform for leading political figures to outline their positions on key national issues as preparations for the 2027 general elections gather momentum.
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