Nigerian journalist and Arise TV presenter, Rufai Oseni, has sparked conversations online after questioning President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s handling of fuel subsidy removal and the impact of the policy on Nigerians three years into his administration.
Speaking while discussing Tinubu’s third anniversary in office, Rufai argued that many Nigerians are not driven by hatred for the President but by frustration over the country’s economic realities and lack of visible improvement in living conditions.
According to him:
“President Tinubu, nobody hates you.”
Rufai also questioned the government’s transparency regarding subsidy removal, noting that Nigerians were initially informed that fuel subsidy had been removed, only for reports and later developments to suggest that subsidy payments still continued afterward.
“Nigerians were told subsidy was gone, only for it to finally be removed completely later.”
He further challenged the government on how the savings from subsidy removal have been utilized, insisting that ordinary Nigerians are yet to feel any meaningful relief despite repeated promises of economic recovery.
“Now, all the savings the government claimed came from subsidy removal have they improved our lives? No!”
The remarks quickly generated reactions online, with many Nigerians sharing different opinions on Tinubu’s reforms, fuel subsidy removal, and the state of the economy.
Reacting to the issue, X user @JerryWhyte_ wrote:
“Here are some of d oil producing countries still offering substantial fuel subsidies to their citizens: Iran, Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, Libya, Algeria, Kuwait, Malaysia, Egypt, Indonesia, etc. Even Japan just recently introduced fuel subsidy measures to stabilize fuel prices.”
Another user, @BBstarlord, said:
“They hate the truth but it is what the man said he would do, so where are all those monies?”
@Bintinlaye84240 simply described Rufai’s statement as:
“Bittertruth”
Commenting further, @SirFavour19 wrote:
“this is most interlectua conver. hv ever liste from Mr Rufai”
Another user, @Onyeani_Kalu, reacted briefly, saying:
“Fight don start”
@VictorManjul also added:
“Gbam‼️”
Some users expressed stronger feelings about the President.
@SamuelDuyilemi wrote:
“I hate him…”
Another user, @Elioosa, stated:
