Atiku playing to the gallery on subsidy, says OAU professor

Professor Tunji Ogunyemi of Obafemi Awolowo University has warned that 15 northern states risk collapse within three months if fuel subsidy is reinstated, as some politicians, including ADC presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar, have advocated.

As reported by Vanguard, speaking on the Open Forum 360 podcast hosted by Dare Adekanmbi, Ogunyemi described reversing the subsidy removal as “calamitous,” further noting that only about four states can survive without federal allocation.

He said the move would drastically reduce accruals to the Federation Account, leaving many states unable to pay salaries or meet debt obligations.

Ogunyemi added, “with due respect,” that Atiku’s position amounted to political posturing, urging the former vice-president to clarify the practical implications of his subsidy proposal.