ASABA/Nigeria: Former Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, has defended the removal of petrol subsidy by President Bola Tinubu, arguing that the policy would have been implemented by any of the leading contenders in the 2023 presidential election if elected.
Okowa made the position known on Tuesday in Asaba while receiving members of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Asaba Branch, who visited him to express solidarity with his ambition to return to the Senate and represent Delta North Senatorial District in 2027.
According to Okowa, the major presidential candidates in the 2023 election had indicated their intention to remove petroleum subsidy in their manifestoes, but Tinubu was the candidate who eventually had the opportunity to implement the policy after emerging as president.
“Any of the presidential candidates would have removed the subsidy, as they had all made that commitment in their manifestoes. Tinubu only had the opportunity to implement it because he emerged as President,” he said.
His comments come amid renewed political disagreement over the future of petrol subsidy as preparations for the 2027 general elections gather momentum.
Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, who was Okowa’s running mate on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) platform in the 2023 presidential election, has recently renewed his pledge to restore petrol subsidy if elected president in 2027. The position has attracted criticism from the Tinubu administration.
The debate has brought the economic implications of subsidy removal back into the political conversation, particularly concerns about fuel prices, household spending and the cost of transportation.
Beyond the subsidy debate, Tuesday’s engagement provided an opportunity for Okowa to seek the support of members of the engineering profession for his senatorial ambition.
The NSE delegation, led by its Asaba Branch Chairman, Mr Chukwuka Ojei, reportedly comprised several professional engineers who commended Okowa’s administration for its infrastructural interventions across Delta State.
The engineers expressed support for his aspiration to return to the National Assembly, assuring him of their willingness to mobilise members of the profession across Delta North ahead of the 2027 elections.
Responding, the former governor described engineers as important partners in the development process, recalling the working relationship he maintained with the professional body during his eight-year administration in Delta State.
He particularly acknowledged their contributions to efforts to address flooding challenges in Asaba, noting the importance of engineering expertise in resolving environmental and infrastructural problems.
Okowa appealed to the delegation to support his return to the Senate, expressing confidence that his experience in governance and legislative affairs would enable him to contribute to the development of Delta North and the country.
The former governor, who represented Delta North in the Senate between 2011 and 2015 before becoming governor in 2015, also highlighted his legislative contributions to the country’s healthcare sector.
He cited his involvement in the passage of the National Health Act, which established an institutional framework for healthcare financing and strengthened provisions for health insurance and primary healthcare delivery.
Okowa maintained that his experience in both the executive and legislative arms of government would be valuable in advancing the interests of Delta North if elected to represent the district again.
The visit comes as political consultations and alignments gradually intensify across Delta State ahead of the 2027 general elections, with aspirants seeking support from professional groups, community leaders and other stakeholders.
