President Bola Tinubu has rejected calls from political opponents Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi to reinstate the fuel subsidy, invoking biblical and Quranic imagery to defend his administration's removal of the policy. Speaking on the matter, Tinubu compared the subsidy removal to Moses leading the Israelites out of Egypt, stating that no one can ask Moses to return to Egypt.
Tinubu's Religious Reference in Defense of Subsidy Removal
The president made the remarks while responding to opposition figures who have promised to bring back the fuel subsidy if elected in 2027. He said: "I listen to my political opponents promising the return of subsidy. I remember my scripture studies in either the Bible or the Holy Quran. When Moses left Egypt, they faced the challenge; the Red Sea parted and gave way. You cannot ask Moses to go back to Egypt."
Tinubu's statement is the clearest indication yet that his administration will not reverse the subsidy removal, a policy scrapped on the day of his inauguration in May 2023. The removal led to a sharp increase in petrol prices across Nigeria and has remained one of the most contested decisions of his tenure.
Opposition Figures Campaign Against Subsidy Removal
Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for the 2027 general elections, and Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), have both made the subsidy removal a central issue in their campaigns. They have positioned themselves as advocates for reinstating the subsidy, which many Nigerians link to the current cost-of-living crisis.
Tinubu's choice of imagery, comparing the subsidy removal to the Exodus, frames the policy as an act of liberation rather than hardship. His reference to the Red Sea parting suggests he views the current economic challenges as temporary obstacles on the path to a more stable economy.
Political Divide Ahead of 2027 Elections
The comments come as the 2027 general election campaign season intensifies, with opposition figures using the cost-of-living crisis as a rallying point against the administration. Tinubu's remarks signal a sharp divide between his government and rivals, with the president framing the subsidy removal as an irreversible step forward.
The president's statement was shared in a video on X (formerly Twitter), where he reiterated his stance. The removal of the fuel subsidy has been a defining policy of Tinubu's administration, and his latest remarks suggest he remains committed to it despite opposition pressure.
