Omoyele Sowore, the presidential candidate for the African Action Congress (AAC), has publicly criticized President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for eliminating the petrol subsidy. Sowore contends that this policy has imposed greater financial strain on everyday Nigerians while supposedly benefiting affluent business interests.
In a statement shared on his official X account on September 14, 2026, Sowore reacted to a report in which businessman Aliko Dangote praised Tinubu for the fuel subsidy removal and for reforms in foreign exchange.
Sowore accused the current administration of favoring the wealthy at the expense of millions of Nigerians, asserting, “Of course, Tinubu @officialabat did it so that you, @AlikoDangote, and your friends could get richer while millions of Nigerians became poorer.”
He characterized the apparent alignment between government policies and the interests of wealthy entrepreneurs as political patronage and insisted that governance should serve the entire populace rather than a privileged few. “That is not governance. It is a PADI PADI GOVERNMENT, a government of friends, by friends, and for friends,” he remarked.
Sowore also proposed that should he lead the government, he would reevaluate the existing fuel subsidy policy. “The #Sowore2027 government will restore fuel subsidies transparently and accountably so Nigeria’s petroleum wealth actually benefits Nigerians,” he proclaimed.
Additionally, he accused Dangote’s refinery project of receiving considerable government support, while ordinary Nigerians suffer from escalated petrol prices following the subsidy removal.
“The @DangoteGroup benefited from enormous state support to build his refinery. Then Tinubu removed the subsidy ordinary Nigerians depended upon, forcing the people to absorb crushing fuel prices while big business continued to enjoy preferential treatment,” Sowore asserted.
He questioned why incentives for large businesses should not be classified as subsidies. “They tell Nigerians that subsidy is evil, but what do they call tax concessions and waivers for billionaires? SUBSIDY,” he argued.
Sowore also criticized preferential foreign exchange policies and access to public infrastructure, asserting that government support should be uniformly evaluated, regardless of the recipient.
He labeled the current economic situation as “economic apartheid” and called for the nation’s wealth to benefit the broader population.
“We reject this economic apartheid. Nigeria’s wealth must work for the Nigerian people, not just a privileged circle of billionaires and their friends in government.
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