ADC’s Owokoniran Attacks Gov Sanwo-Olu Over Defence Of Tinubu’s Subsidy Removal
Hon. Rahman Owokoniran, a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) South West and Convener of The Frontliners Movement, Lagos State, has slammed and described as unwarranted Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s criticism of Atiku Abubakar’s proposal to restore fuel subsidy.
Owokoniran said Sanwo-Olu should stop defending policies that made life harder for ordinary Nigerians and start working towards improving the lives of millions of people living in poverty and suffering from hunger in Lagos State.
“It will be nice for the state Governor to carry out a survey to assess the poverty index in Lagos State. This will grant him a better understanding and put him in a place to give quality advice to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his administration,” he said.
“Your Excellency, Governor Sanwo-Olu, you will need to tell Nigerians why Atiku’s proposal is unrealistic. Can you explain to Lagosians: Why the prolonged suffering of the people in the last three and half years since Tinubu removed the subsidy and simultaneously devastated Nigeria’s currency in an unprecedented economic crisis? That is what you celebrated as boldness and courage. You cannot be honest with your constituents and the nation at large.
“Why are transportation fares so high? Why is rent becoming impossible for ordinary workers? Why are food prices so high? Why do many communities still struggle with flooding, poor roads, inadequate water supply and other basic services?”
According to Owokoniran, Lagos was one of the richest states in Nigeria and generated about ₦1.69 trillion in revenue in the first six months of 2026 alone.
“Despite all this wealth, too many Lagosians are still suffering from poverty and unemployment due to lack of basic needs like education or health care for their families,” he said.
“Lagos is generating huge amounts of money, but the people continue to suffer from poverty due to government policies that have failed to cater for their needs. Lagosians are demanding explanations about why they are being left behind. Why is there no provision for their relief?
“Where is the better life that the APC government promised the people. When will the campaign promise of affordable housing going to be implemented. When is the renewed hope for the future of our communities in this country and reliable public service taking place?”
Owokoniran also demanded that Tinubu, a former two-term Governor of Lagos and the godfather of Lagos State governors since 2007 and currently serving President, owed the nation an explanation for the grouse neglect and the lack of respect for the people’s dignity and respect for their needs to survive in this horrible state of affairs in the nation and why it has been impossible for him to make life easier for ordinary citizens, given the enormous wealth of the country.
He said Lagosians should not be told to simply accept hardship while leaders continued to make decisions contrary to international standards in order for them to sustain themselves in office as long as possible and not necessarily to protect the people’s rights, interests and dignity.
He submitted: “A government should be judged by the lives of its people. If people cannot afford food, transportation, rent and healthcare, then something is wrong. You cannot tell a hungry man that the economy is improving when he cannot afford his next meal.”
Owokoniran insisted that Atiku’s proposal should be debated on its merit, rather than dismissed because it came from an opposition candidate: “Governor Sanwoolu’s criticism is absurd. He should have taken the time to consider the proposition instead of jumping into the fray only to dance around the issue with no concrete proposal addressed.
“This is not about politics. This is about the Nigerian future. Nigerians are tired of Tinubu’s policies and the APC-led administration. Lagosians are tired of several years of the same policies of the APC government over the years. They want leaders who will listen to their pain and take action to help solve their problems.
“Sanwo-Olu should see Atiku’s proposal for what it is. Providing a better policy to deliver better governance by meeting the people’s demands for a better future. The goal here is whether or not we can achieve the goals we need today without inflicting harm on the people who have been harmed by this decision.
“We need an antidote to this problem in order to prevent it from being prolonged by the virus already spreading in the policies as they are now. That is the debate Nigerians are having now. And that is what Atiku spoke about in his statement about resolving subsidy issues.
“Lagos is a wealthy state and Nigeria is a wealthy nation. Our people should not be poor at all. The Almighty God blessed this nation with plenty of resources that can make our nation great again but we have been unlucky with leaders who failed us time and time again to be creative and build a great nation that is capable of taking Nigeria to greater heights.
“Now is the time to do something about it.”
