Bwala: Obi has very shallow knowledge of economics, governance
I would have done better if I’m the president, says Obi
The Presidency and the former presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Mr Peter Obi, have expressed divergent views over the use of savings arising from the fuel subsidy removal by the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
The Presidency and Obi spoke in separate forums on Tuesday while speaking on the propriety of the using savings from the removal of fuel subsidy to develop critical infrastructure.
Obi had in a post on his verified X (formerly Twitter) handle, following his interview on Arise Television, stated that he supported the removal of fuel subsidy, a major reform undertaken by President Tinubu, but insisted he would have handled it differently if he was in charge as president of the country.
He wrote, “I have consistently maintained that I would have removed the fuel subsidy. If you go to my manifesto, it is there and the steps I would have taken in an organised manner.
“Since we were told that we removed it because we don’t want to borrow and that the funds will allow for investments in critical infrastructure—billions saved—where is it? Where is it invested in critical areas of development?”
The former Anambra State Governor added that the real problem was not the removal of subsidy itself but the way the policy was executed and questioned the Tinubu administration’s use of the supposed savings from the subsidy removal.
But the Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, has sharply criticised Obi and accused him of lacking a deep understanding of economic policy and governance.
Bwala made the remarks in a post on his verified X (formerly Twitter) handle while reacting Obi’s interview on Arise Television earlier in the day.
Faulting Obi’s comments on key policy issues—particularly the removal of fuel subsidy and the unification of Nigeria’s foreign exchange rates—Bwala said Obi offered no credible alternatives while conceding agreement with the Tinubu administration’s broad economic direction.
Bwala wrote: “He (Obi) seems to have very shallow knowledge of economics and governance. Anybody with a rational mind knows these guys are just looking to grab power; but they don’t have any alternative agenda.”
The presidential aide however, dismissed Obi’s claim, saying that the former presidential candidate merely danced around the issue when pressed for specifics.
He said, “He agreed with our policy of removal of subsidy and unifications of the foreign exchange; he claimed he would have done it better than us in an ‘organized manner’. He was asked what is the ‘organised manner.’ He played with words yet to arrive at agreeing with us.”
Incidentally, Bwala’s criticism extended to the tone and nature of the interview itself, saying that the Arise TV host, whom he referred to as “a member of his Obidient movement,” had given Obi an easy ride.
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