Peterside: Nigerians Must Apologise to Jonathan, Others After Subsidy Removal

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

The founder of Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc and Anap Foundation, Atedo Peterside, has called on Nigerians opposed to the removal of fuel subsidy in 2012 but now fully support the current move by President Bola Tinubu to withdraw it to apologise to those who took the decision 11 years ago.

Specifically, the investment banker in a tweet mentioned the then President, Goodluck Jonathan, the Finance Minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and Peter Obi as some of those who deserve to be apologised to.

Aside Tinubu, other key leaders of the 2012 protest against the Jonathan government included erstwhile Works and Housing Minister, Mr Babatunde Fashola as well as Pastor Tunde Bakare, among others.

According to the Rivers-born banker, such persons are now singing a different tune following the recent decision of the present administration to stop fuel subsidy.

He added that Okonjo-Iweala, Obi and other members of the 2012 economic team  were ‘chastised’ over the policy which its opponents are now pushing.

“The petrol subsidy removal is complicated by the fact some liars who held sway in 2012 are now singing a different tune in 2023. They should apologise to @GEJonathan @PeterObi @NOIweala & others in the 2012 Economic Team and beg Nigerians for forgiveness so we can move forward, ” Peterside said in the tweet.

After Jonathan removed subsidy in January 2012, the move sparked huge protests in some parts of the country, after it was fiercely resisted by many governors, labour unions, among others, forcing a reversal of the policy.

Tinubu during his inauguration as president on May 29 said there would be no more fuel subsidy as there was no provision for it in the budget, a decision that has received mixed reactions from the public.