The President of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, Festus Osifo, and the presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Adewole Adebayo, locked horns on Tuesday during a debate over fuel subsidy removal.

President Bola Tinubu, in his inaugural speech on Monday, had declared that “fuel subsidy is gone,” leading to panic buying and hoarding of Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) across the country.

While debating the topic on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Osifo queried Tinubu’s choice of words, noting that based on the President’s own admission, subsidy would still be in play until the end of June.

But Adebayo, in a bid to counter the trade union president, accused the TUC leadership of compromise, saying, “This is why they don’t have the credibility to lead labour. This is the reason why — because they are just looking for relevance. You have to make the issue very clear.

SDP presidential Candidate, Adebayo:

“There are two things you can do now: You must have subsidy because they’ve passed the law. We were protesting; you were collaborating with those who would say…. They were busy negotiating money for elections, how to collect money from politicians. ”

Responding to the weighty claim, Osifo asked the SDP candidate to show proof or “take that back.” Despite repeated attempts by the TUC president and the presenter, Seun Okinbaloye, to get a retraction from the SDP candidate, he refused.

TUC president, Osifo then fires back at Adebayo:

“While It is now I knew why you performed abysmally in the elections, because you don’t even understand Nigeria’s problems. You don’t understand Nigeria’s issues. You clearly don’t understand economics.

“You clearly don’t understand what Nigeria represents. I wonder why a party like the SDP would go and look for somebody like you who is clearly a quack .”

https://www.channelstv.com/2023/05/31/tuc-president-sdps-adebayo-in-heated-debate-over-fuel-subsidy-removal/

Earlier on twitter, Adebayo criticised TUC and NLC for being partisan:

. I remind Nigerians that it was only @TheSDPNg that took the stand that corruption, not fuel subsidy, should be removed. @OfficialAPCNg @OfficialPDPNig @NgLabour campaigned for instant removal. TUC and NLC adopted @PeterObi who vowed to remove subsidy, now shedding crocodile tears

https://twitter.com/Pres_Adebayo/status/1663654854680625155?t=cuc6RH6cvAQu-JuKotfzvg&s=19

"TUC and NLC adopted PeterObi who vowed to remove subsidy, now shedding crocodile tears"

TUC and NLC lost the little integrity left in the Union as soon as they began dabbling in party politics. Same TUC and NLC that openly campaigned for Peter Obi who promised to remove subsidy 'immediately' if elected, and even further used the word 'will not wait a single day after'. Same Labour union leaders are now shedding crocodile tears around. Playing opposition party.

Whether you like it or not. Removal of subsidy must stand. Subsidy died on May29. And we have no RIP to even waste. Gone forever.

SDP guy is baba blue boy

This SDP candidate is very articulate. Isn't it obvious that the TUC have not been providing the necessary leadership that can bail thier members and by extension, Nigerian out of the traps of the politicians? When OBJ sold Port Harcourt Refinery to Dangote in 2007, didn't this guy opposed the transaction and forced Yar'Adua to reverse the sale? Imagine if Dangote was allowed to complete the transaction then? We won't be here debate about subsidy today. Bunch of directionless and corrupt labour union leaders.

I watched it yesterday and it was so hilarious 😂...

The SDP guy was claiming he is the only candidate that never supported or talked about subsidy removal and Nigerians didn't still vote for him... 😅


The man is funny.

Fight wella!

Subsidy will be removed!

Rubbish. That was a theatrical performance put together by Channels TV to bamboozle Nigerians. It's obvious that Seun and the channels TV crew now care more about entertaining their viewers than actually doing their job: informing Nigerians.
Little wonder Arise TV is now the go-to channel for Nigerians.

Since Nigerians have been complaining about Tinubu's unguided declaration that subsidy have been removed, APC supporters have never failed to show to Nigerians that other presidential aspirants said they would remove it too.
They don't know that Tinubu's action is like copying someone's statement in a police station without knowing the offence they committed.
This SDP guy is still bitter after losing woefully at the polls because he didn't even win his own polling unit. I have never taken him serious, not even when he tries to sound intelligent. How would you accuse someone of being financially compromised on national TV without proof¿ He should be sued for libel and defamation of character, maybe after then his senses would be restored.
Channels should have ejected him out of their studio after he refused to retract his statement.

lhordspy:
"TUC and NLC adopted @PeterObi who vowed to remove subsidy, now shedding crocodile tears"

This part hits hard. TUC and NLC lost the little integrity left in the Union as soon as they began dabbling in party politics. Unsurprisingly, it is not so difficult to figure out why. The two labour unions are currently led by people from the same region as one of the presidential candidate of a political party.

gazelle gagaraga reasoning!

Only southeast indigenes are suffering from fuel subsidy removal?

Clap for yourself.
Osifo is from Edo state. Igbophobia keeps beclouding your reasoning.

OP, focus on Tinubu, your president. I wonder why APC will never take responsibility. Always looking for who to blame. Before, APC were blaming Jonathan. Now they are trying to blame PO. This children of the corn are terrible.

Tinubu go use many people shine

Osifo is an embarrassment!

Peter Obi is now their yardstick to do anything.

The funny man Adebayo trying too hard to get an appointment from Tinubu...

He has been making silly noises all over the place.

lhordspy:
"TUC and NLC adopted PeterObi who vowed to remove subsidy, now shedding crocodile tears"

TUC and NLC lost the little integrity left in the Union as soon as they began dabbling in party politics. Unsurprisingly, it is not so difficult to figure out why. The two labour unions are currently led by people from the same region as one of the presidential candidate of a political party.

Look, racist politics does not work. You are merely wasting time.

Same TUC and NLC that openly campaigned for Peter Obi who promised to remove subsidy 'immediately' if elected, and even further used the word 'will not wait a single day after'. Same Labour union leader are now shedding crocodile tears around. Playing opposition party.

Supporters of Peter Obi state emphatically that Peter Obi would have first opened a channel of dialogue with the stakeholders before making a pronouncement.

Whether you like it or not. Removal of subsidy must stand. Subsidy died on May29. And we have no RIP to even waste. Gone forever

There's no subsidy. There has never been. What exists is a working relationship with international financial firms which was reached during the civil war, inorder to acquire loans to purchase arms and ammunition to pursue their campaign in the war. And, it can never stop. Baba Lagos just wants to bypass the cabal and bribe little feudal lords inorder to stay in office. The same tactic deployed by Sepp blatter and Platini during their respective reigns at FIFA and UEFA. The cabal will serve him breakfast at the right time.

It's fine if their clash is in the best interest of our dear country.

Referee never finish blow opening whistle, Tinubu don score own goal

Now the whole country is in turmoil

My brother I just like the calmness of Mr Adebayo that Ipob guy na enemy of Nigeria

A case of a right thing at the wrong time..

Subsidy removal came at the wrong timing. BAT should not have announced it (it was too quick for him to announce), he should have caught those evil oil marketers and their sponsors, unaware..

Okay

Nigerians have lost confidence in TUC and NLC.

Nothing good can come out of NLC.

Africans are bad politicians

When they increased the pump price of fuel to 140 naira they told us the subsidy has been removed, only for them to tell us again they are still paying subsidy on fuel, then they moved the price to 220 and told us it had been removed totally now this same people are still telling us they are still removing it again and the price has jumped to 700 naira as of today yet no one has actually cared to ask how much is the landing cost of fuel. and why we have not been able to get our refineries working after spending billions of dollars on them.
Most Nigerians are very gullible and easily manipulated that is why these criminals in government who are the real beneficiaries of this subsidy scam will continue to manipulate and hoodwink them. Renewed hope indeed.

SubsIdy should be maintained