The Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Social Media, Dada Olusegun, has criticised the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, over his recent comments concerning the rising cost of fuel in Nigeria.
Olusegun, in a strongly worded response posted on the social media platform X on Saturday, urged Obi to refrain from speaking on issues he allegedly does not fully understand. He described the former Anambra State governor’s remarks on Nigeria’s fuel price situation as “wrong and embarrassing.”
The presidential aide’s reaction came in response to a statement released by Obi on Thursday, where the former governor expressed concern about the sharp increase in the prices of petroleum products across the country. Obi had attributed the situation partly to Nigeria’s lack of a strategic petroleum reserve and what he described as poor planning by the government.
In his statement, Obi argued that Nigeria remains vulnerable to external shocks in the global oil market because it lacks adequate mechanisms to cushion the impact of international price fluctuations. According to him, the country’s failure to establish a strategic petroleum reserve has left it exposed whenever geopolitical tensions disrupt global energy supply.
He cited the recent spike in petrol and diesel prices as evidence of the country’s fragile energy framework. Obi noted that petrol, which sold for less than ₦1,000 per litre only a few weeks ago, had risen to over ₦1,200 per litre in many parts of the country. Similarly, diesel prices, he said, had climbed from below ₦1,000 per litre to more than ₦1,500 per litre.
The Labour Party chieftain linked the increases to tensions involving Iran and the broader effects such geopolitical developments have on global oil prices. According to him, such developments often translate into higher energy costs for countries that rely heavily on imported refined petroleum products.
However, Olusegun dismissed Obi’s analysis, insisting that the explanation offered by the former presidential candidate failed to accurately reflect the dynamics of Nigeria’s fuel pricing system. He argued that Obi’s comments were misleading and suggested that the former governor lacked a full understanding of the factors currently influencing domestic fuel prices.
The presidential aide maintained that global oil market fluctuations and supply chain realities play complex roles in determining energy prices worldwide, adding that simplistic explanations could confuse the public and distort ongoing policy discussions.
Olusegun’s remarks have further intensified the ongoing political debate surrounding Nigeria’s fuel pricing and broader economic management, an issue that has remained a major topic of public discussion since the removal of petrol subsidies and subsequent adjustments in the downstream petroleum sector.
Analysts say the exchange between the two political figures reflects the continuing rivalry between supporters of the current administration and opposition figures who have remained vocal about economic policies and their impact on Nigerians.
As fuel prices continue to fluctuate across the country, public attention remains focused on government policies, global oil market trends, and long-term strategies aimed at stabilising the energy sector and reducing Nigeria’s vulnerability to external shocks.
