Nigeria hasn’t witnessed economic growth since Jonathan left office, country regressing under APC – Fayemi

• According to Fayemi, Nigeria has not experienced economic development since the All Progressives Congress (APC) came to power
• Fayemi said the protest that characterised the aftermath of fuel subsidy removal in 2012 was politically motivated.

A former Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has said the last time Nigeria witnessed economic development was under former president Goodluck Jonathan.

The former minister of solid minerals made this known on Tuesday at a national dialogue in Abuja.

The event was organised to celebrate the 60th birthday celebration of the founding National Secretary of Alliance for Democracy and Fellow, Abuja School of Social and Political Thought, Professor Udenta Udenta in Abuja.

Delivering his keynote address at the event, Fayemi said the protest that characterised the aftermath of fuel subsidy removal during the administration of Jonathan in 2012 was politically motivated.

Recall that the nation was on lockdown after protests erupted following the removal of subsidy by the Jonathan’s government.

On January 1, 2012, Jonathan announced the removal of fuel subsidy and adjusted the pump price of petrol from N65 per litre to N141.

The decision sparked widespread public demonstration, tagged ‘Occupy Nigeria’ across major cities of the country.

The price was later re-adjusted to N97, after more than a week of protests.

Jonathan was vehement attacked verbally for the fuel price adjustment, especially from leaders of the All Progressives Congress, who were then in different opposition parties, including the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria, Congress for Progressives Congress, All Nigeria Peoples Party, and All Progressive Grand Alliance.

Fayose said many at the time knew that subsidy removal at the time was for the best but the opposition parties place political interests over national interest.

According to Fayemi, Nigeria has not experienced economic development since the All Progressives Congress (APC) came to power.

“All political parties in the country agreed and they even put in their manifesto that subsidy must be removed. We all said subsidy must be removed. But we in ACN at the time, in 2012, we know the truth Sir, but it is all politics”