Activist lawyer Maduabuchi Idam has charged President Bola Tinubu to reverse the removal of the fuel subsidy or sack the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, for insubordination.
Idam explained that Tinubu has a choice to make if he must redeem the credibility of his administration’s policies.
His charge followed Oyedele’s announcement of a 30-day fuel price discount at Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, filling stations across Nigeria.
In a statement he signed, Idam said Oyedele had shown that the consequences of fuel subsidy removal had become so severe that the Federal Government must intervene.
Idam questioned whether the policy had been well thought out and its consequences thoroughly considered before implementation.
According to Idam: “Now that the Minister of Finance has admitted, through the proposed fuel price intervention, that measures are necessary to cushion the effects of hardship on Nigerians, can President Tinubu now reverse the fuel subsidy removal or sack the Minister for insubordination?
“President Tinubu has one of these choices to make if he must redeem the credibility of his policies as a leader.
“What the Finance Minister has communicated to the Nigerian public, through the fuel price intervention, is that the consequences of fuel subsidy removal have become so severe that government intervention is now necessary.
“It raises a fundamental question: was the policy well thought out and its consequences thoroughly considered before implementation, or is the government now struggling to manage the fallout from a decision it is reluctant to reverse?
“Mr. President should, if he remains convinced that fuel subsidy removal is in the best interest of Nigerians, explain why this intervention does not contradict that position.”
Idam said Tinubu should apologise to Nigerians if he considered Oyedele’s actions an act of insubordination.
He urged Nigerians not to be deceived by what he described as the panic-driven policies of the current administration.
Idam added: “If he considers the Minister’s action an act of insubordination, then he should take responsibility for his position. Otherwise, an apology to Nigerians has become urgent.
“He must apologise to Nigerians and urgently reconsider the return of fuel subsidy. No one should be deceived by panic-driven policies that appear motivated more by the fear of losing the 2027 election than by a genuine commitment to alleviating the suffering of Nigerians.
“Leadership is not about defending a policy at all costs; it is about having the courage to admit when a policy is failing the people and the humility to change course.”
Reverse fuel subsidy removal or sack Finance Minister, Oyedele – Lawyer tells Tinubu