LAGOS (Sundiata Post) – Former deputy national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olabode George, has expressed concerns over what he described as the lack of transparency by the Federal Government regarding the payment of fuel subsidy.
Reacting to the nationwide broadcast of President Bola Tinubu, to Nigerians on Sunday, August 4, where Tinubu said his decision to remove fuel subsidy was necessary.
Addressing a press conference in his Lagos office on Thursday, George condemned the secrecy surrounding the oil sector, urging the government to come clean on its dealings.
In March 2024, a former governor of Bauchi State, Isa Yuguda, disclosed that the federal government still pays subsidy on petroleum products, while in the following month, the immediate past governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, said the government is now paying more for fuel subsidy than before.
“In the oil sector, you hear there is subsidy today, tomorrow you will here there is no subsidy. We want to know what the truth is because Nigerians are not properly briefed as to what is happening in that sector. Subsidy, no subsidy, which one should we believe, where is the truth?
“My perception of the oil sector of our country is very disappointing. Who is the minister of petroleum?Mele Kyari, made a statement on Wednesday,that is very worrisome. He said at the right time he would talk.When is the right time?
“As an elder statesman, I can’t just keep quiet. We have a young generation and they are restless. They want to know what is happening. What is happening in the north is a reflection of the restlessness of the youths,” he said.
George also questioned the land deal between Aliko Dangote and the Lagos State government, demanding to know if the local community benefited from the $100 million paid.
“Aliko Dangote said he paid $100 million to buy the land in Lekki where the refinery is sited, which of my people in Lekki has benefited from that money, or the government just grabbed the money and those people are thrown out of the environment?” he asked.
George said the failure of the government to brief the populace about her polices is responsible for the protest currently going on in the country.
“What i think happenedlast week is just a tip of the iceberg. The truth will come up one day. Those who went round to protest did so out of frustration, because they don’t get feedback from the government. It is the constitutional right of government officials to always give them feedback on what is going on, because they elected the people into power,” he said.
