Former Ogun State Governor and APC chieftain, Aremo Olusegun Osoba, has criticised former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar’s proposal to restore petrol subsidy if elected president in 2027.
Osoba argued that returning to a subsidy regime would represent a step backwards for Nigeria, insisting that the country should instead focus on policies that can strengthen its economy and reduce dependence on government intervention.
The APC elder’s comments come amid renewed political debate over the future of petrol subsidy ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Atiku has been advocating a review of the current approach to fuel pricing and has said his administration would consider measures to reduce the burden of high petrol prices on Nigerians if elected.
However, Osoba rejected the proposal, maintaining that the country had already experienced the negative consequences associated with the subsidy system.
He argued that previous subsidy arrangements created opportunities for corruption and placed a heavy financial burden on the government.
According to him, Nigeria should learn from its past experience rather than return to a system that he believes contributed to economic distortions and public-sector waste.
Osoba also defended the reforms introduced by President Bola Tinubu, particularly the decision to remove the petrol subsidy, despite the hardship experienced by Nigerians following the policy.
He maintained that difficult economic reforms could produce long-term benefits if properly implemented and accompanied by measures to cushion their impact on citizens.
The former governor’s position adds to the growing political debate over fuel subsidy as political parties and presidential hopefuls begin presenting their economic proposals ahead of the 2027 election.
The disagreement between supporters of subsidy removal and those advocating some form of subsidy intervention is expected to remain a major issue in the political discourse leading up to the election.
