JUST IN: Fayemi Blames Jonathan For Lacking Courage To Remove Fuel Subsidy

(DDM) – Former Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has taken a swipe at former President Goodluck Jonathan, accusing him of lacking the political courage to remove Nigeria’s controversial fuel subsidy during his tenure.

Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) gathered that Fayemi made the remarks while speaking at a national policy dialogue on energy reforms and governance held in Abuja.

He reflected on the country’s decades-long struggle with fuel subsidy, describing it as one of the most damaging policies in Nigeria’s economic history.

According to Fayemi, the Jonathan administration had the best opportunity to permanently end the subsidy regime between 2011 and 2015 when the global oil market was favorable, and public support for reform was relatively strong.

“President Jonathan had every tool and support needed to do the right thing,” Fayemi said. “He had the backing of economists, industry experts, and even members of the National Economic Council. But what was missing was political courage.”

DDM recalls that in January 2012, the Jonathan-led government attempted to remove the fuel subsidy, causing the pump price of petrol to skyrocket overnight.

The move triggered massive nationwide protests known as the Occupy Nigeria movement, with millions of Nigerians taking to the streets in Lagos, Abuja, Kano, and other major cities.

Trade unions, civil society groups, and opposition parties condemned the decision, accusing the government of worsening the plight of ordinary citizens.

The protests lasted over a week, forcing Jonathan to partially reinstate the subsidy in a bid to restore calm.

Fayemi, who served as the Governor of Ekiti State during that turbulent period, said Jonathan’s reversal proved that Nigeria’s leaders often prioritize political survival over economic reform.

“The subsidy fiasco of 2012 was a turning point,” he said. “It showed how deeply Nigeria’s economy is tied to politics and how leaders sometimes sacrifice long-term progress for short-term popularity.”

DDM reports that Fayemi also commended President Bola Tinubu for finally removing the subsidy in May 2023, describing the decision as “painful but necessary.”

He argued that although Nigerians are currently facing economic hardship, the country must endure short-term discomfort to achieve fiscal stability and growth.

He further emphasized that the subsidy system, which began in the 1970s to stabilize fuel prices, had become a “drainpipe for corruption,” enriching a few powerful individuals while the majority of Nigerians suffered from poverty and unemployment.

“Subsidy was no longer a social protection policy; it became an organized theft,” Fayemi asserted. “Billions of dollars were siphoned annually under the guise of subsidy payments.

Those funds could have been used to fix our refineries, build schools, and improve healthcare.”

Economic analysts who spoke to DDM noted that Nigeria spent over ₦11 trillion on fuel subsidies between 2006 and 2023, an amount larger than the combined budgets for education and health within the same period.

They argued that while Jonathan failed to take the decisive step, his predecessors, including Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, also avoided the full deregulation of the oil sector for fear of public backlash.

Fayemi, however, urged current leaders to learn from history and ensure transparency in managing the savings from subsidy removal.

“The challenge now is not just removing the subsidy but using the gains wisely,” he warned. “If people don’t see the benefits in better roads, education, and power supply, they’ll lose faith again.”

He concluded that Nigeria’s progress depends on courageous and visionary leadership.

“It takes bravery to do what’s right for the nation,” Fayemi said. “President Jonathan missed that opportunity, and we’re still paying the price today.”