An All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain in Osun State, Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, has challenged former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi to explain how they intend to finance a proposed return to petrol subsidy without affecting workers’ salaries and government projects.
Oyintiloye questioned the financial sustainability of the proposals, insisting that opposition candidates must explain how they would fund the policy while meeting other government obligations.
Speaking with journalists in Osogbo on Sunday, he described the promises to restore petrol subsidy as unrealistic, given the country’s current economic realities.
“It is practically impossible to think of returning Nigeria to the era of fuel subsidy. Atiku and Obi should be mindful of the implication of whatever promise they are making to get the attention of Nigerians,” he said.
He also questioned a proposal by the presidential candidate of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Donald Duke, to peg petrol prices at ₦300 per litre if elected.
Oyintiloye asked whether a future administration would be able to sustain the subsidy without reducing workers’ earnings or abandoning ongoing infrastructure projects.
“Presently, salaries, wages are based on the post fuel subsidy removal earnings of the government,” he said.
“With the restoration of fuel subsidy that these candidates are promising, will the wages and salaries be reviewed and downgraded too? What will be the earnings of the state at the wake of fuel subsidy restoration? What becomes of several ongoing projects of the government awarded based on its current earnings? Nigerians are wiser.”
Atiku said in September that he would restore petrol subsidy if elected president in 2027, arguing that President Bola Tinubu’s administration had failed to adequately account for the funds saved following the policy’s removal.
Obi also pledged to restore the subsidy after addressing corruption, according to reports of his remarks in September.
Oyintiloye argued that the removal of petrol subsidy and foreign exchange reforms introduced by the Tinubu administration had forced difficult economic adjustments but also changed the revenue available to governments.
He said increased allocations from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) had given state governments greater financial flexibility to meet obligations, execute development projects and address infrastructure and social-service needs.
The APC chieftain urged opposition candidates to explain how their proposed policies would work in practice rather than make promises he considered disconnected from the country’s fiscal realities.
He also challenged state governors to ensure that increased allocations translated into tangible improvements in residents’ lives.
According to him, state governments should prioritise better roads, improved healthcare, increased food production, regular payment of salaries and pensions, and employment opportunities.
He said Nigerians should be able to see the benefits of increased government revenue in their communities through improved public services and development projects.
Oyintiloye, however, urged the Federal Government to sustain efforts to ease economic pressure on vulnerable households, control inflation, expand employment opportunities and improve citizens’ purchasing power.
“I appeal to the opposition candidates to be truthful to themselves and stop deceiving Nigerians. The majority of their promises are nothing but a recipe for public chaos,” he added.
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