Former spokesperson for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Kola Ologbondiyan, has expressed his concerns about the impact of the removal of fuel subsidy and the floating of the naira, which he believes have left Nigeria in a dire economic situation.

Speaking during an appearance on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Monday, Ologbondiyan criticized the approach taken by President Bola Tinubu’s administration, arguing that the decisions were rushed and lacked sufficient measures to cushion the effects on the masses.

Ologbondiyan stated that the phased removal of the petrol subsidy, coupled with adequate palliatives, could have been a more effective strategy.

He pointed out that during the PDP’s administration, subsidy removal was handled gradually, ensuring that Nigerians were not left to bear the brunt of the changes abruptly.

“What has brought Nigeria to its knees are the twin decisions made by President Bola Tinubu, particularly the removal of the fuel subsidy and the floating of the naira.

These policies have severely impacted the average Nigerian,” he remarked.

The former PDP spokesperson also questioned the effectiveness of the current administration’s palliatives, which have largely focused on distributing subsidized rice.

He argued that Nigerians require much more than food relief, emphasizing the need for a robust public transportation system.

“The APC government is asking Nigerians to buy rice at N40,000 per bag as a form of relief, but people’s needs extend far beyond rice.

What about affordable transportation? A functional public transport system would reduce the need for individuals to rely on private vehicles, which consume costly fuel,” he explained.

The governors reportedly discussed the pressing need for comprehensive reforms that would address the economic challenges facing the country without exacerbating the suffering of the citizens.

Reflecting on the PDP’s past leadership, Ologbondiyan reiterated that the party’s approach to reforms was rooted in careful planning and public engagement.

“Under the PDP, subsidy removal was phased and accompanied by tangible palliatives that made life easier for Nigerians.

What we see today is a government that is not engaging with the public meaningfully and is offering inadequate solutions to major economic problems,” he said.

Ologbondiyan further criticized the PDP’s current approach to opposing the administration, describing it as insufficient.

He called on his party to engage more actively with the government to propose alternatives that would better serve Nigerians.

“It’s unfortunate that even as PDP, we seem to be paying lip service to the need for robust engagement with the sitting government.

We should be presenting well-thought-out alternatives to these policies instead of just criticizing from the sidelines,” he added.