The presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress, NDC, Mr Peter Obi, has disagreed with the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, over his proposal to restore fuel subsidy if elected president in 2027.
Obi said subsidy removal remained necessary, arguing that the major problem was the Federal Government’s alleged mismanagement of the resources saved from the policy.
Obi spoke yesterday at the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, conference in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where opposition presidential hopefuls debated Nigeria’s worsening security situation, the economy, policing and fuel subsidy.
Atiku, who had campaigned for subsidy removal during the 2023 presidential election, recently said he would restore the policy if elected in 2027.
Obi, however, said mismanagement of the proceeds should not be used as justification for reversing the policy.
“I subscribe and I maintain that we need to remove subsidy. Mismanagement of the proceeds should not be the reason for not removing it,” Obi said, adding that the savings should have been invested in areas that would provide relief and alternatives for Nigerians.
He maintained that the resources recovered from subsidy removal were instead being mismanaged and allegedly stolen.
Obi also said his position had been clearly stated in his 2023 manifesto, where he proposed an organised approach to subsidy removal and proper investment of the savings.
The former Rivers State governor and ADC vice-presidential candidate, Rotimi Amaechi, also called for massive job creation, increased local production and policies capable of putting more money in the pockets of Nigerians.
Amaechi highlighted infrastructure and security initiatives undertaken during his tenure as Rivers governor and promised equitable distribution of political appointments under an Atiku-Amaechi administration.
Meanwhile, African Action Congress, AAC, presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore called for a change of government, insisting that the country’s security crisis could not be resolved under the present leadership. He also criticised the manner in which fuel subsidy had been administered.
Other candidates offered different solutions to Nigeria’s security and governance challenges.
Social Democratic Party, SDP, candidate Adewale Adebayo advocated a three-tier policing structure involving federal, state and local governments, while former Cross River State governor Donald Duke identified leadership as the country’s central problem.
Duke called for reforms to strengthen the presidential system and reduce the influence of ethnicity in politics.
Earlier, President Bola Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, defended the administration’s proposed state police reform, saying it was designed to address weaknesses in Nigeria’s centralised policing system.
He warned that state policing without adequate safeguards could create more problems, but argued that stronger institutions, professionalism, training and protection for officers who reject unlawful orders could prevent abuse.
The NBA conference provided an early platform for 2027 presidential hopefuls to test their competing positions on security, economic management, fuel subsidy and governance ahead of what is expected to be a fiercely contested presidential election.
