The Federal Government has denied that its proposed fuel discount is to make the Nigerian people vote for the All Progressives Congress, APC, administration in the 2027 general elections.
Minister of Finance, Taiwo Oyedele, made the rebuttal on Friday while fielding questions in an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today.
According to Oyedele, the Federal Government is not that dumb to think in that direction, adding that the gesture is to help the Nigerian people.
Recall that the Federal Government had announced that it was offering a discount on petrol dispensed by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, for the next 30 days.
Meanwhile, some figures in the opposition political parties had said that the move by the Federal Government was to make Nigerians vote for the ruling APC in next year’s polls.
Reacting, the minister said, “I think that there are some politicians who think that Nigerians are stupid. Election is in January, this discount is for one month. Are we that dump that we will give you a discount for one month so that you can vote for us in January? How does it even add up?
“So we need to start respecting the average Nigerian as as being smart enough to process information. But if I just overlook that, the point is that NNPC is owned by the government. What is wrong in saying give people a discount limited to your profit? Aren’t we trying to help the Nigerian people?
“So, if something is right, how does it matter whether you do it before or after?
“By the way, I told you that the measures that the government has introduced or considering are 17. How come it’s only this one we are doing before the election?”