A former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, on Wednesday, said President Bola Tinubu is only trying to stabilise Nigeria after the alleged damage of the last administration.

He also described the announced subsidy removal plan by Tinubu as “the best and wisest decision”.

That less than 24 hours after Tinubu declared an end to fuel subsidy, the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit commonly known as petrol has skyrocketed to N600 per litre from N195/l in many parts of the country.

The development equally triggered a 100 per cent hike in transport fares, while long queues resurfaced at fuel stations across Lagos, Abuja, Ilorin, Benin, Asaba, Port Harcourt, Kano, Makurdi and other major cities and urban areas.

But reacting to the removal of fuel subsidy on his Twitter handle on Wednesday, Fayose said he was convinced that Tinubu meant well for

According to him, I am convinced that President Tinubu has taken the best and the wisest decision for the collective good of Nigeria and its people.

“He promised to remove the subsidy, he never hid it. Most importantly, too, the immediate past govt already removed fuel subsidy technically by not making provision for it in the 2023 budget.

“I appeal to Nigerians to bear with the government for now as the present hardship will ease out with time. Removing the fuel subsidy is the best thing to do and it has to be done once and for all.

“Unfortunately, the subsidy regime has only been benefiting a few people in the oil industry and Nigeria must break this chain once and for all.”

Fayose, who is a Peoples Democratic Party chieftain, argued that the decision taken by Tinubu and considered harsh by Nigerians are needed to move the country forward.

“No doubt, President Tinubu is not a magician who can manufacture money. He can only strategically reposition the country, using his experience and intellect, which he has started.

“Many goverments have come and paid lip service to all these issues, it is time to sustain our country by taking decisions that may be seen as harsh but can return the country back to the path of progress.

“The NLC and all interested parties, especially ordinary Nigerians should realize that the last administration did more damage and the new government can only be finding ways and means to stabilize the country.

“Sadly, like typical Nigerians who are always desirous of taking advantage of every situation, the fuel marketers are only interested in making money for themselves and methinks the govt should

come very hard on them this time. Anyone among them found to be hoarding fuel or selling at an exorbitant rate should be dealt with.”

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