The leader of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF, Edwin Clark, has asked Nigerians not to blame President Bola Tinubu over the removal of fuel subsidy.
According to him, fuel subsidy was a scam, which was why previous governments disapproved of its continuation.
Bellnews reports that major contenders in the 2023 presidential election all mentioned in their manifesto that they will end payment of fuel subsidy if elected to govern the country.
Speaking on other matters on Friday during a courtesy visit from High Chief Benjamin Tamaranebi, the President of the Host Communities of Nigeria Producing Oil and Gas (HOSTCOM), at his residence in Asokoro, Abuja, Clark urged President Tinubu to promptly declare a state of emergency regarding food insecurity, citing the widespread hunger and discontent among Nigerians.
The former Federal Commissioner for Information and a prominent leader from the South-South region, in response to the recent protests by citizens, emphasized that the government cannot suppress the right to protest, highlighting that such actions are fundamental to democratic expression.
Clark recalled that President Tinubu had previously organized protests against former President Goodluck Jonathan in response to the removal of the oil subsidy.
He stressed that Tinubu should not be held accountable for the cessation of the fuel subsidy, as the budgetary allocation for it concluded in June 2023.
However, he called on the incumbent government to implement effective strategies to alleviate poverty, noting that the removal of the fuel subsidy has caused significant hardship for the Nigerian populace.
“Oil subsidy is a big problem in Nigeria. Oil subsidy is not confined to Nigeria alone, but everything in Nigeria does not work because of poor management and poor leadership. True, we all realize later that the oil subsidy was a scam.
“That was why in 2012, during the administration of Jonathan, in January 2012, his government removed the oil subsidy.
“During the 2023 presidential campaign, all the major parties talked about the removal of subsidies. But in 2020 and 2021, President Buhari, as well as the Minister of Finance, Ahmed, and the Minister of State Petroleum, Timipre Sylva, announced to Nigerians that there was no longer subsidy in Nigeria,” the elder statesman said.