Arise Television presenter Rufai Oseni on Friday accused the Tinubu’s government of hypocrisy over a 30-day petrol discount at Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) filling stations, describing the measure as a return of fuel subsidy.
Speaking on The Morning Show, Oseni rejected claims by Finance Minister Taiwo Oyedele that the discount did not constitute a subsidy.
“Subsidy is back. Welcome back, subsidy. The fact that the Minister of Finance, Taiwo Oyedele, says it’s not a subsidy does not mean it’s not a subsidy,” Oseni said. “Read my lips. It is a subsidy, and it is back.”
He credited former Vice President Atiku Abubakar with pushing the issue into public debate, recalling Atiku’s September 18 speech in which he said President Bola Tinubu could rename any intervention and take credit for it “as long as the pain is less on the people.”
“Who do we have to thank? Atiku Abubakar. I never knew there would be a day I would thank you, Atiku Abubakar,” Oseni said. “If not for you, this government wouldn’t have thought of any reprieve for anybody.”
Oseni noted that global crude oil prices had exceeded $100 per barrel since March 8, yet the government had offered limited relief until the current short-term discount.
“You see, hypocrisy is so much in this country. Government officials spent all these months defending their position and saying, ‘No, subsidy should not come back. It is an aberration,’” he said. “But when it’s one month to the election, they quickly bring it back for 30 days.”
He questioned what would happen after the 30-day period ends, asking whether the discount would be withdrawn once elections were over.
Oseni also challenged the distinction between a “discount” and a subsidy, asking who would absorb the cost of lost profits at NNPCL stations and arguing that such profits were normally reinvested in the business.
