A former member of the Osun State House of Assembly, Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, on Sunday warned the two leading opposition candidates in the forthcoming presidential election, ex-Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, against making campaign promises capable of causing public unrest.
In a statement obtained in Osogbo, the state capital, Oyintiloye lamented that Atiku and Obi were making unrealistic promises to attract votes from Nigerians.
Specifically, he said the declaration by the two presidential candidates in the upcoming 2027 elections – Atiku of the African Democratic Congress and Obi of the Nigeria Democratic Congress – to restore fuel subsidy, if elected, was unrealistic.
He insisted that all organs and tiers of government had already adjusted to life under the current no-subsidy regime.
“It is practically impossible to return Nigeria to the era of fuel subsidy. Alhaji Atiku and Mr Obi should be mindful of the implications of whatever promises they are making to get the attention of Nigerians.
“The presidential candidate of the Peoples Redemption Party, Donald Duke, also promised to peg the pump price of petrol at N300 per litre if elected. How realistic is that?
“I appeal to the opposition candidates to be truthful to themselves and stop deceiving Nigerians. The majority of their promises are nothing but a recipe for public chaos.
“Presently, salaries and wages are based on the post-subsidy removal earnings of the government. With the restoration of fuel subsidy that these candidates are promising, will wages and salaries be reviewed downward? What will be the earnings of states in the wake of fuel subsidy restoration? What becomes of several ongoing government projects awarded based on its current earnings? Nigerians are wiser,” the ex-lawmaker queried.
He noted that the fuel subsidy removal and foreign exchange reforms introduced by the President Bola Tinubu administration had driven major fiscal adjustments.
He, however, admitted that the policies had placed considerable pressure on households and businesses.
Highlighting the gains of the subsidy removal, he said the increase in monthly allocations from the Federation Account had given state governments greater financial flexibility to meet their obligations, execute development projects and address infrastructure and social-service deficits.
Oyintiloye urged opposition candidates to support the Federal Government’s efforts to reposition the economy or adopt alternative campaign strategies rather than make promises they would not be able to fulfil.
He also called on state governors to demonstrate accountability by translating increased revenue into better roads, improved healthcare, stronger food production, regular payment of salaries and pensions, and more employment opportunities.
According to him, citizens expect tangible improvements in their living conditions rather than increased government revenue without visible benefits at the grassroots. He urged the FG to sustain efforts to ease the current economic burden on vulnerable households, curb inflationary pressures, expand employment opportunities and improve purchasing power.
He also implored Nigerians to assess the government’s economic reforms objectively, expressing optimism that they would eventually yield positive results for the benefit of all.
