Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun has said state governors should be responsible for explaining how the financial gains from petrol subsidy removal have been spent, rather than President Bola Tinubu.
Abiodun spoke on Thursday at an All Progressives Congress rally held at the Dipo Dina International Stadium in Ijebu-Ode, where he defended the use of additional funds accruing to states following the removal of the petrol subsidy.
Speaking in Yoruba, the governor argued that state governments were better placed to account for the funds because the increased revenue had resulted in higher allocations to the states.
He questioned why President Tinubu should be asked to account for the money when state governments receive the additional allocations and determine how much of the funds are committed to their respective programmes.
“They want to bring back subsidy. Are they mad? They were asking our leader to explain what he did with subsidy removal gains,” Abiodun said.
“It is we, governors, that should make such explanations because it is we, state governors, that collect the money,” he added.
The Ogun governor said the additional revenue had supported infrastructure projects and various government interventions across the states.
He cited the construction and development of airports, roads, schools and housing, as well as incentives provided to farmers, as examples of areas where the additional funds had been deployed.
“Besides, what have we been using to build airport, road, schools, housing and incentives for farmers? Isn’t it from subsidy?” he asked.
Abiodun also used the occasion to take aim at opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general elections, expressing confidence that the APC would defeat its political rivals.
“Go and tell your people that all of them are not up to one. We will defeat them mercilessly,” he said.
His comments came amid debate over the future of petrol subsidy policy, with African Democratic Congress presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar proposing its restoration if elected president.
The Tinubu administration has maintained that subsidy removal freed resources that had previously been used to keep petrol prices artificially low. According to the Federal Government, the policy saved the federation N15.8 trillion between June 2023 and December 2025.
The debate over the use of the savings has continued to feature prominently in political discussions, with government officials highlighting increased revenues and infrastructure spending, while opposition figures have questioned the impact and management of the additional funds.
