Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has publicly praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for demonstrating exceptional courage in removing the long-standing fuel subsidy, describing the bold move as a necessary and overdue step toward fixing Nigeria's economy.
In his remarks, Governor Otti reaffirmed his continued support for the President, emphasizing that difficult but essential economic decisions require strong leadership.
He highlighted that the fuel subsidy regime had become unsustainable and irresponsible, draining national resources for far too long.
“President Tinubu made a courageous decision to stop the fuel subsidy, and it ought to have been done long ago,” Governor Otti stated. “It requires somebody with courage to remove that subsidy, and I am in support of it.
We have behaved in an irresponsible manner for a very long time, and when you have years of irresponsible behavior, the correction would be tough, difficult, and painful. It is the correction that we are going through now; if we don’t lose faith, we will eventually get it right.”
The Governor referenced his consistent advocacy for subsidy removal, pointing to his earlier columns in ThisDay Newspaper particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic where he argued that the time had come to end the practice, especially as global off-takers rejected Nigerian crude due to lack of demand.
Governor Otti described the subsidy as a "scam" that had hindered genuine progress and stressed that President Tinubu's actions align with broader reforms needed to stabilize and grow the Nigerian economy. He expressed confidence that, with sustained commitment and public understanding, these reforms will yield long-term benefits for all Nigerians.
“I will continue to support President Tinubu as he takes difficult but courageous and necessary economic decisions to fix Nigeria’s economy,” the Governor added. “This is beyond party lines it is about doing what is right for our country.”
Governor Otti called on Nigerians to remain patient and resilient during this transitional period, assuring that the tough choices being made today will pave the way for a more prosperous and self-reliant future.