National leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and former governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to remove fuel subsidy without further delay.
In a key note address yesterday in Kaduna on the 10th memorial anniversary of late Bala Usman, a politician, and former lecturer at the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Tinubu described the oil subsidy as, ‘many demons’.
The APC national leader noted that if Bala Usman were alive, he would have equally called for immediate removal of the subsidy, adding, “What I have said here is more than talk. It is a call to action”.
Bala Usman was the Head of Department (HOD) of History, at ABU in the 80s, and was later appointed Secretary to the State Government (SSG) under the administration of former governor of Kaduna State, Alhaji Balarabe Musa in the late 80s.
Tinubu said, “In a perfect world, I wish we could sanitize the subsidy regime and thus continue with it.
“However, I have reached the conclusion that there are too many demons in the system for that hell to be turned into heaven.
“It is better that we remove it, not for the austere purpose of saving money but to use the money more wisely, that we might better save the people. Let us begin a process of a thoughtful, but decisive subsidy phase-out.
“While this is occurring, we should simultaneously phase in social programmes benefiting the poorest, most vulnerable among us.
“Programmes such as transportation subsidies, school feeding, improved basic medical care and coverage for the poor, and potable water projects are some of the things that can be done with the same funds.
“This way we can undertake this massive expenditure confident that the fruits will go to the hungry, not the already too well fed.
“End the fuel subsidy. Subsidise the people instead – Subsidise the people instead!”.
Earlier in his welcome address, Kaduna State governor, Malam Nasir El- Rufai extolled the late historian, saying, “He cared about ordinary people and spent his life fighting for the common man.
He gave everything he had, his intellect, his resources to advance the life of the downtrodden in Nigeria, this is why we are very proud of him.”
source sun online
