A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Kenneth Okonkwo, has accused President Bola Tinubu’s administration of secretly reintroducing fuel subsidy through its 30-day petrol price discount initiative.
Okonkwo made the allegation on Sunday while speaking on Inside Source, a programme on Channels Television.
The former Nollywood actor and politician faulted the Federal Government’s position that the recent reduction in petrol prices was a discount rather than a return to subsidy.
According to him, there is no significant difference between a fuel subsidy and a discount when both measures are intended to reduce the amount consumers pay at the pump.
“Sorry to say this, Taiwo Oyedele lied when he said it was not a subsidy. It was a subsidy,” Okonkwo declared.
He argued that the government introduced the intervention in response to the high cost of petrol and the economic hardship affecting households and businesses.
The ADC chieftain noted that the reduction in petrol prices from about ₦1,500 to ₦1,350 per litre showed that the government recognised the need to provide relief to Nigerians.
“What were they trying to do? They were trying to reduce costs. They acknowledged by themselves that the cost was becoming unbearable for the people and they had to intervene to give relief for the people,” he added.
