Ezekwesili Faults Tinubu’s Fuel Subsidy Removal, Urges Legal Profession to Resist Prebendal Politics

By Joseph Iyaji | Akahi News

Former Minister of Education, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, has described President Bola Tinubu’s removal of fuel subsidy as a “good reform implemented wrongly,” warning that the policy has worsened poverty and inflation across Nigeria. Her comments were made on Monday during a panel session at the ongoing Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) conference in Enugu.

Subsidy Removal Criticised
Ezekwesili criticised the abrupt announcement of the policy, famously declared by President Tinubu as “Subsidy is gone,” arguing that millions of Nigerians were plunged into further hardship as a result.

“You can have the right policies, but if you implement them the wrong way, there will be problems,” she said. “The subsidy removal was not prepared for. Inflation is punishing the populace, and the poor have nowhere to run. This was a reform done wrongly.”

She highlighted the devastating impact on vulnerable populations, emphasising that inflation disproportionately affects the poor, noting that Nigeria currently has 133 million citizens living in poverty.

Call for Judicial and Legal Integrity
Dr. Ezekwesili also urged lawyers and the judiciary to resist prebendal politics and avoid endorsing practices that enrich the political elite at the expense of the masses. “The idea that politics is the pathway to wealth is an anomaly. Any profession that rewards such behaviour cannot claim to care about tomorrow,” she said.

Her remarks resonated with the wider panel discussion, which focused on governance, economic reform, and the role of professionals in safeguarding democratic principles.

Minister of Interior Highlights Investment and Research
In his keynote address, Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji Ojo, stressed the importance of prioritising research and development to drive sustainable economic growth. “Four of the five biggest economies in the world are also the highest spenders on R&D. A firm that fails to invest in research cannot grow beyond its research,” he said. Ojo also lamented Nigeria’s fiscal structure, noting that in 2022, 96.3% of federal revenue was spent on debt servicing, leaving minimal funds for capital projects.

He further urged the legal profession to review outdated laws governing the fire service and correctional services and emphasised the need to channel resources into both infrastructure and research.

Concerns Over Judiciary Independence
Another panelist, George Etomi, expressed concern over the state of judicial independence in Nigeria. “Our judiciary was more independent under the military,” he lamented. “Democracy is being abused today. We must protect the judiciary.”

Public Dissatisfaction with Economic Policies
Participants at the session expressed widespread dissatisfaction with President Tinubu’s economic agenda. When asked whether the country was on the right track, most attendees responded “no.” Similarly, when asked if their hope had been renewed under the “Renewed Hope Agenda,” the response was again a resounding “no.”

Akahi News gathered that the discussions at the NBA conference reflect growing unease among professionals and citizens regarding the implementation of key economic reforms and the need for greater accountability, transparency, and policy foresight in Nigeria.

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