Obi Challenges Tinubu Over ₦15.8Trillion Subsidy Savings

The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has challenged President Bola Tinubu to explain how his administration has used the ₦15.8 trillion saved from the removal of the fuel subsidy and the over $100 billion it has borrowed.

Obi’s demand came a day after Tinubu criticised the former Anambra State governor during an All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign rally in Akwa Ibom State.

The President had said that while Obi ran from erosion in Anambra, he confronted the Atlantic Ocean in Lagos.

In a post on his X handle on Saturday, Obi congratulated Tinubu on spending a night in a Nigerian state outside Lagos and Abuja.

He also urged the President to visit other states and explain how his administration had used the resources available to it.

“I congratulate you on spending a night in one of Nigeria’s states outside Lagos and Abuja. I hope you enjoyed the warmth, hospitality, and delicious cuisine of Akwa Ibom, which I am sure is even better than those of the destinations where you have spent over 260 days outside Nigeria since coming into office.

“I sincerely hope this visit will inspire you to travel to the remaining 33 states of the federation, spend time with the people and, more importantly, explain what your administration has done with the ₦15.8 trillion saved from the removal of fuel subsidy, the over $100 billion you have borrowed, the increased revenues accruing to the government from taxing Nigerians, and the additional government revenues which your administration celebrated last year as having surpassed its target,” Obi wrote.

The former Anambra governor said Nigerians deserved to know what the government had achieved with the money.

He listed poverty reduction, the return of out-of-school children to classrooms and the construction of functional primary healthcare centres among the areas where the administration should provide answers.

“Nigerians deserve to know how many that were pulled out of poverty within this period, how many out-of-school children were returned to school, and how many functional primary healthcare centres you have built.

“They also deserve to know how much electricity supply has improved, especially given your promise that if you do not fix power, Nigerians should not vote for you. They deserve an explanation of how you have secured the country, which still ranks among the most terrorised countries in the world.

“Mr President, Nigerians deserve answers. They deserve to know what has been done with the resources entrusted to your government,” he added.

Obi said the new Nigeria he hopes to build would be based on accountability, transparency and measurable improvements in citizens’ lives.