Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki has come under scrutiny for his accusations against the APC-led Federal Government.
The accusations, labeled as false, unfounded, and shallow by critics, have raised questions about the governor’s focus and performance.
Governor Obaseki, who had previously shifted his attention to the nation’s economic challenges, was accused of attempting to divert attention from his own alleged poor performance at the state level. Critics argue that while differences in opinions are expected among leaders, it is essential to base criticism on reality and concrete results.
The governor’s comments specifically targeted the APC-led Federal Government’s decisions on fuel subsidy and foreign exchange market reforms. However, these remarks were met with counterarguments that the broader economic context was overlooked. Experts point out that the removal of fuel subsidy had long been advocated by various stakeholders, including Nigerians, state governors from across party lines, and global institutions like the World Bank and IMF. This was due to the fiscal distortions and economic burden that the subsidy imposed.
Contrary to Governor Obaseki’s claims, evidence suggests that Edo State benefited significantly from the removal of the fuel subsidy. The Federal Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) allocation to Edo State reportedly more than doubled between June and July 2023, marking a notable improvement from the pre-subsidy removal era.