The presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in 2023, Peter Obi, has said that if he had he been elected as President, he would have removed petrol subsidy and floated the naira.

Giving reasons, the former Anambra governor said everybody knows that the “criminality and corruption” associated with the petrol subsidy regime had to end.

He, however, stated that he would have implemented the policy against subsidy in a gradual manner, unlike the manner taken by President Bola Tinubu's administration.

Obi made this known on Monday while speaking in an interview with Arise Television.

“I have consistently maintained that I would have removed the fuel subsidy. If you go to my manifesto, it is there and the steps I would have taken in an organised manner,” Obi said.

“There is nothing wrong with the removal of fuel subsidy. What is wrong is the haphazard way in which it was announced and implemented.

“Since we were told that we removed it because we don’t want to borrow and that the funds will allow for investments in critical infrastructure. Billions saved. Where is it? Where is it invested in critical areas of development?

“Everybody knows critical areas of development — education, health, and pulling people out of poverty. Have any of these three improved? No.

“There is nothing wrong in floating and devaluing your currency. You do this when you have productivity.

“In all of this, I would have done the same thing in an organised manner.”

ASA