The 2023 Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi has slammed President Bola Tinubu over the introduction of a new 5% tax on all refined fossil fuel sales, including petrol and diesel.

Obi condemned Tinubu on his official X handle late on Wednesday stressing that this new tax will bring hardship and more suffering on Nigerians.

The former Anambra State governor stated that the 5% fuel tax should have waited until Nigerians begin to see tangible improvements in their lives from all the many promises from President Bola Tinubu.

“Nigerians will pay a 5% tax when buying their everyday fuel or diesel at a time when millions can hardly even afford the cost of transportation.

Mr. President just yesterday boasted that Nigeria has met its revenue target for the year. Yet instead of easing hardship, the government imposes more burden on Nigerians.

Even the so-called alternative, CNG, has become unaffordable, rising from about N230 to N450, while the promised subsidies on the CNG have quietly vanished.

If our revenues are truly ‘excessive’ as claimed, should they not first be used to fund education, healthcare, and pulling Nigerians out of poverty? Why tax citizens who cannot even breathe anymore?” he asked.

According to him, leadership is not about giving a burden but reducing suffering, and about care and compassion.