Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun has kicked against growing calls by opposition politicians for the return of fuel subsidy, arguing that it would affect state governments’ financial capacity to deliver projects.
Governor Abiodun stated his position on the subsidy debate while addressing the Ogun State Caucus 7202 Mega Rally on Thursday at the Dipo Dina International Stadium, Ijebu-Ode, where dozens of support and interest groups under the Caucus 7202 endorsed the re-election bid of President Bola Tinubu, and the election bids of all Ogun State candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 polls.
Governor Abiodun noted that subsidy removal had resulted in a massive boost to state government revenues, enabling the execution of projects. He further dismissed demands by the opposition that President Bola Tinubu account for funds saved from the removal of subsidy, stating that state governors should be held accountable instead.
Speaking in Yoruba, Governor Abiodun said, “They said they will reinstate the fuel subsidy. Are they crazy? They are now asking our leader (President Tinubu) to explain what he did with the subsidy funds. It is we (the governors) who owe the explanation (to Nigerians). Because it is we, the state governors, who collected subsidy funds.
“What did we use to construct the airport? What are we using to build roads? What are we using to build schools? What are we using for Oko’Owo Dapo (market women empowerment programme)? What are we using for our agricultural intervention to farmers?”
Governor Abiodun, who is the APC Ogun East Senatorial Candidate, also expressed confidence that his party will coast to victory in the 2027 elections, despite the fallout of the subsidy removal, saying that the opposition at both the state and national levels cannot withstand the might of the ruling party at the polls.
Governor Abiodun, while boasting of the huge crowd at the stadium for the Caucus 7202 event and the wider party strength of the APC in Ogun State, teased that the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the deputy governorship candidate and all other PDP candidates in Ogun State might soon decamp to the APC.
