A presidential aspirant under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) faction loyal to Nyesome Wike, Sandy Onor has backed the removal of fuel subsidy by President Bola Tinubu, describing it as a bold step that released funds for national development.
Onor, who was the only presidential aspirant screened on Thursday ahead of the 2027 general elections, alongside 25 governorship aspirants drawn from 17 states across the country, spoke after his screening exercise.
He noted that greater accountability was needed to ensure Nigerians feel the impact of the policy.
Onor said he was not among opposition politicians who condemn every action of the current administration, stressing that honesty demanded acknowledging some of the achievements of the President.
Tinubu, on assumption of office on May 29, 2023, announced the removal of fuel subsidy and subsequently implemented the policy by ending the Federal Government’s long-standing payment of trillions of naira to keep petrol prices low for Nigerians.
Many Nigerians have, however, continued to demand accountability on how the savings from the subsidy removal have been utilised.
In response, the Presidency maintained that the policy has significantly boosted monthly federal allocations to states.
Reacting, the sole PDP presidential aspirant argued that despite the huge funds generated from the subsidy removal, those entrusted with managing and distributing the resources had failed to ensure that the benefits reached ordinary Nigerians, particularly at the grassroots level.
He stated, “On my assessment of the President’s administration, to be very honest with you, I’m not one of those persons who, because you are in the opposition, will condemn everything the President has done.
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“That’s not intellectually right. That’s not even socially and politically correct. If you want people to believe you, then you must be seen to tell the truth.
“So there are some things the President has done that are very applaudable, and I will applaud the President on those things. And where he’s not doing well, I’ll say so and tell Nigerians that I will do better.
“Nigerians universally agreed that subsidy was a problem and a bastion of corruption. This president came on his very first day in office, removed the subsidy and released a lot of funds for development.
“I believe that releasing those funds is one achievement. Ensuring that the funds circulate to the people and have meaning is another.
“I think that those who are on the downlines have not done justice to the enormous funds released by the subsidy removal.
“I will ensure that accountability right up to the grassroots level is maintained, and our people feel the positive impact of subsidy removal.”
Speaking on insecurity, Onor said one of the basic issues driving it is grassroots poverty.
“We must look for ways and means of ensuring that our young men across Nigeria are meaningfully engaged. One sure way of doing that is funding local governments properly,” he said.
Onor expressed concern that, despite the Supreme Court judgment which granted autonomy to local government, funds were still not being disbursed to the third tier of government.
“And then again, let me make the point. This President had the courage to go to the Supreme Court and ask that the autonomy of local governments be guaranteed. The Supreme Court said yes. It makes sense. Funds should go directly to local governments.
“But as I speak to you, those funds are still being heavily ambushed by most state governments. It is wrong.
“When you have local governments that are not properly funded, you will have a lot of ungoverned spaces in the country. There is no space in this country that is not part of a local government.
“If you fund local governments well, they will activate their security institutions. Traditional rulers will be well taken care of. Vigilantes will be properly funded. Before these militants and marauders incubate and consolidate, they would have taken them out.
“I will ensure that local governments are properly funded. And I will ensure that youth unemployment is checked. Youth must be meaningfully engaged,” he said.
Onor said that with experience in both the executive and legislative arms of government, having served as a senator and also in the executive, he possesses a comprehensive understanding of how government operates.
Onor stated, “I know the limitations of government, and I’m ready and willing to make corrections where necessary and take Nigeria to the heights that we are yearning for.
“So I’m not bothered at all about whether we have governors in PDP presently or we do not. Some of these governors were even a problem for us. It’s good that they left.”
He expressed the belief that the campaign would be centred on the grassroots, adding that the people are yearning for a change.
“We understand where they are. We know what they are going through. We are going to speak their language, and they will understand us.
“I believe that overwhelmingly they will vote for us across this country. The governors are not voting for us.
“If I were not in this race ready to win, I wouldn’t waste my time. We are in this race to win. And we believe the PDP vehicle is solid enough,” he added.