Former Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has said that former President Goodluck Jonathan failed to show the necessary political will to fully remove fuel subsidy in 2012, even though the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) supported the policy at the time.
Fayemi made the remark in Abuja on Tuesday at the Oxford Global Think Tank Leadership Conference and Book Launch, while reacting to comments by the Emir of Kano and former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Muhammadu Sanusi II.
Sanusi, who also spoke at the event, had praised President Bola Tinubu for removing fuel subsidy but noted that Tinubu’s opposition to the same policy in 2012 contributed to its failure under Jonathan’s government.
“I’ve always maintained my position on subsidy removal for over 30 years,” Sanusi said. “The government deserves credit for ending the subsidy, but the same President must also take responsibility for opposing the move in 2012. Still, the best time to act is now, and the government has finally done the right thing.”
However, Fayemi countered that narrative, stressing that the 2012 subsidy removal effort was not derailed by political opposition but by Jonathan’s hesitation to follow through on his decision.
“When we talk about the 2012 Occupy Nigeria protest, the truth is that most governors supported subsidy removal,” Fayemi stated. “The Nigerian Governors’ Forum, which I was part of, was one of its strongest advocates.
“Yes, my party, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), didn’t support it politically, but governors like myself and Adams Oshiomhole openly promoted the idea during several town hall meetings. The problem was that President Jonathan lacked the conviction to push through with what he believed in.”
Fayemi applauded President Tinubu for showing what he described as “political courage” by eliminating the subsidy immediately after assuming office in May 2023.
“President Tinubu declared from day one that subsidy was gone. He could have backtracked when public pressure mounted, but he stayed firm, and that courage deserves commendation,” Fayemi added.
The former governor, however, cautioned that the real test lies in how the government manages the aftermath of the policy to cushion the economic burden on Nigerians.
“The devil is in the details,” he warned. “The key challenge now is ensuring that the removal does not continue to worsen the suffering of ordinary citizens.”
Keywords: fuel subsidy removal, fayemi, goodluck jonathan, muhammadu sanusi II, president tinubu, occupy nigeria, nigerian governors forum, 2012 subsidy controversy, political courage, economic reform
