Former Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, has defended President Bola Tinubu’s removal of the petrol subsidy, saying any of the four major presidential candidates in the 2023 general elections would have taken the same decision if elected.
Okowa said the policy was not peculiar to Tinubu, insisting that all the major contenders had indicated their readiness to remove the subsidy in their manifestoes.
The former governor spoke on Tuesday in Asaba when members of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, Asaba Branch, paid him a solidarity visit ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“Any of the presidential candidates would have removed the subsidy, as they had all made that commitment in their manifestoes. Tinubu only had the opportunity to implement it because he emerged as President,” Okowa said.
He argued that the presidential candidates had independently acknowledged the necessity of subsidy removal in the country’s economic interest.
Okowa’s remarks come amid renewed controversy over fuel subsidy ahead of the 2027 elections, following former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s pledge to restore it if elected and Tinubu’s description of politicians making such promises as liars.
Okowa was Atiku’s running mate in the 2023 presidential election under the Peoples Democratic Party.
Meanwhile, the NSE delegation, led by its Asaba Branch Chairman, Mr Chukwuka Ojei, endorsed Okowa’s ambition to return to the Senate to represent Delta North Senatorial District in 2027.
The engineers commended the infrastructural achievements of Okowa’s administration, describing his performance as deserving of electoral support.
They pledged to mobilise NSE members across Delta North to support his senatorial ambition and work towards securing his victory.
Responding, Okowa described engineers as dependable partners in development, recalling his cordial relationship with the profession during his tenure as governor.
He particularly acknowledged their contributions to efforts to address flooding in Asaba, stressing the importance of engineering expertise in tackling infrastructure and environmental challenges.
The former governor appealed to the engineers to support his return to the Senate, expressing confidence that his governance experience and legislative background would enable him to provide effective representation.
Okowa, who represented Delta North in the Senate between 2011 and 2015, also highlighted his contributions to healthcare development, particularly his involvement in the passage of the National Health Act.
He said the legislation established a framework for improved healthcare financing, including health insurance and dedicated funding for primary healthcare delivery.
The former governor maintained that his experience in executive and legislative responsibilities would enable him to contribute meaningfully to national development if elected again to the Senate.
