A foundation member of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Osita Okechukwu on Tuesday called on Nigerians to adhere to the party’s National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda’s advice by demanding more from their governors.
Okechukwu noted that the governors are the greatest beneficiaries from the removal of fuel subsidy.
He noted that the call was timely as many citizens still wallow in multidimensional poverty and local insecurity.
In a statement he issued, Okechukwu decried that Nigerians are still experiencing infrastructure deficit despite unprecedented increases in the amounts received by the states from the Federal Allocation Accounts Committee, FAAC.
He said: “In my own recalibration of events of the subnationals – State and LGAs are the greatest beneficiaries of removal of fuel subsidy.
“As estimated fuel subsidy expenditure records are inter alia:- 2010-N667 billion, 2011-N2,11 trillion, 2012-N1.36 trillion, 2013-N1.32 trillion, 2014-N1.22 trillion, 2015-N654 billion, 2016-N240 billion, 2017-N154 billion, 2018-N1.9 trillion, 2019-N508 billion, 2020-N864 billion, 2021-N1.43 trillion, 2022-N4.39 trillion, 2023-N3.6 trillion.” Source – NEITI, IMF etc.”
The APC chieftain called for change in mindset, where the “blame games won’t be heaped only on the Federal Government, as if the Federal Revenue is only in the hand of Mr President”.
Okechukwu added that Yilwatda’s appeal is a reminder that accountability must cascade downwards, noting that Tinubu has demonstrated visible commitment to national renewal through reforms in energy and huge security funding.
“Finally, my candid appeal to adhere to Professor Yilwatda’s advice as a challenge to rededicate themselves to development is mostly to APC’s Governors, especially now that we have outstanding majority of governors,” he added.
