FLASHBACK: Tinubu’s Critique of Jonathan Over Fuel Subsidy Removal
In his inaugural speech at Eagle Square, Abuja, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu declared, “Subsidy is gone,” which immediately caused fuel prices to surge from N198 per liter to N540. He asserted thpat the fuel subsidy had become a significant barrier to progress and needed to be eliminated for the country to thrive. Tinubu claimed that the subsidy was fueling corruption and pledged to redirect the funds saved from its removal into other critical areas of the economy.
“You have witnessed the subsidy removal. Why should we, in good conscience, support smugglers and act as Santa Claus for neighboring countries when not every day is Christmas? The subsidy was an elephant that threatened to crush Nigeria,” he said to a group of visiting monarchs a month after the subsidy was lifted.
Interestingly, Tinubu had previously condemned the removal of petrol subsidies by former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration in January 2012 when he was the national leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). He referred to it as the “Jonathan tax” and accused the then-president of violating his social contract with the citizens.
In a commentary titled “Removal of Oil Subsidy: President Jonathan Breaks Social Contract with the People,” he warned that this move would lead to “greater misery” for the populace.
The piece stated in part: “By making this decision, the government has plunged the people into a sea of hardship, demanding they find their own way to safety while claiming that the resulting difficulties will enhance character and efficiency in the national economy.
“It’s easy to make such claims from a position of comfort. The government would have us believe that every hardship it imposes is beneficial. This is a fallacy; these hardships often serve only to keep the poor in their place. This is one such moment.
“While I do not label President Jonathan as an evil man, his economic policies are misguided, leading to unfortunate consequences. Because he adheres to flawed economic principles, the people will endure even greater suffering. This crisis will define his legacy.
“The public is now paying a heavy price for electing him. The removal of the subsidy is effectively the ‘Jonathan tax.’ This situation illustrates that ideas matter more than individual personalities. While people may hold office, their performance hinges on the ideas they embrace.”
