Tinubu’s aide slams Peter Obi over critique of rising fuel prices

A presidential aide, Dada Olusegun, has strongly criticised the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, over his recent comments on the rising cost of fuel in Nigeria.

Obi had expressed concern about the continued increase in petrol prices, warning that the development was worsening economic hardship for millions of Nigerians. He argued that the Federal Government’s policies on fuel subsidy removal and exchange rate management had failed to produce the expected relief for citizens and businesses.

Reacting in a statement, Olusegun dismissed Obi’s remarks as “misleading and lacking in depth,” insisting that the current administration inherited a fragile economic structure that required difficult but necessary reforms. According to him, the removal of fuel subsidy was aimed at preventing the collapse of public finances and freeing up resources for infrastructure, education, healthcare and social intervention programmes.

The presidential aide further accused Obi of playing politics with sensitive national issues, saying the former Anambra State governor should provide practical alternatives instead of what he described as “alarmist rhetoric.” He maintained that the government’s economic policies were already yielding gradual improvements, including increased revenue generation and renewed investor confidence.

However, supporters of Obi have defended his position, stating that his criticism reflects the genuine struggles faced by ordinary Nigerians amid rising transport costs, inflation and declining purchasing power. They called on the government to implement stronger safety nets to cushion the effects of ongoing reforms.

Fuel price increases have remained a major source of public debate since the subsidy removal policy took effect, with labour unions, civil society groups and political actors continuing to demand greater transparency and targeted relief measures.

Economic analysts say the coming months will be critical in determining whether the administration’s reform agenda will stabilise prices and improve living standards, or further intensify social and political tensions across the country.