Bola Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, has urged that the fuel subsidy system must be abolished.
The abolition of fuel subsidies, according to the former governor of Lagos State, will reduce waste and free up government funding for other crucial initiatives.
He stated that since it has been established that the gasoline subsidy regime benefits the wealthy over the poor, abolishing it is one issue on which nearly all of the 2023 presidential candidates can come to an agreement.
He said that people who are attempting to misrepresent his views on the subject are doing so on purpose in order to win easy political points.
As a veteran of protests himself, Tinubu continued by stating that he respects the perspectives of those who disagree with him, but stressed that if he were to be elected as the next president of Nigeria, gasoline subsidies would have to be eliminated.
The APC candidate said the following in an interview with Kano-based Freedom Radio:
“Recently I was asked about fuel subsidy removal, and I said I will ensure we end the wastage and re-channel the money to the people who truly need it. This is one position that almost all the candidates are united about. We all agreed that the subsidy regime is abused and it favours the rich more than the poor. It has to go.
“I couldn’t have opposed people expressing their own position on this. I believe in consultation and guaranteed by democratic values and norms. I respect opinion of people and I would not be party to stifling dissenting views or any legitimate protest. I am a veteran of protests myself. So why should I say people should not embark on well-intentioned protest? There is no excuse for that and there is no abuse of power intended.
