Petrol subsidy removal too sudden… Nigeria was already on its knees, says SDP chair

Shehu Gabam, national chair of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), says the removal of subsidy on petrol was “too sudden” because the country was already on “its knees”.

Gabam spoke on “Politics on Sunday”, a programme on Television Continental (TVC).

President Bola Tinubu announced the removal of the petrol subsidy during his inaugural speech in May 2023.

The SDP chair said the president should have formed his cabinet and asked for their input before taking the decision.

“The system was on its knees. The country is suffering from food supply, insecurity, banditry, killing, barbarism and then you removed 400 percent subsidy,” he said.

“There is no way you would not have gone through what you went through. That was too sudden.

“Any administrator, any student of power can tell you that it was too sudden, but probably he did it with good intention thinking that the situation will remain the same.

“Nigerians’ mindset has shifted, the thinking of the younger generation has shifted. Parents have sold their property to send them to school. They have no jobs.”

Gabam wondered why many people were reading political meanings to a recent visit of Nasir el-Rufai, a former Kaduna governor, to the national secretariat of the SDP in Abuja.

“My relationship with Mallam Nasir el-Rufai predates 1999. I knew him long before then, and we have been close,” he said.

“Coming to the SDP secretariat, I don’t know why it is so special that people misinterpret or interpret how it suits them. There are a lot of politicians of the APC that have visited me, other parties have visited me.

“Do not forget that not too long ago, Al Mustapha came to my office and people were speculating that he is decamping to SDP. Will you be surprised if President Bola Tinubu visits SDP? He knows me and I know him.

“Will I be surprised if the national security adviser, who happens to be my brother and friend, visits me?”

He added that he is not a “greedy politician” who destroys friendships because of various political affiliations.