The 2027 governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abia State, Dr Kelechi Anosike, has backed President Bola Tinubu’s bid for a second term, arguing that the removal of fuel subsidy has increased revenues available to state governments and supported development across the country.

Anosike, in a statement issued by his media unit, said the policy had significantly increased allocations to the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, giving governments greater capacity to execute projects and meet financial obligations.

He, however, argued that the benefits of the increased revenue should extend beyond infrastructure to directly improve the welfare of Nigerians who continue to face the economic effects of subsidy removal.

“If anyone is asking why President Tinubu should get a second term and what he has done to earn it, they should be referred to those projects and massive developments across the 36 states and FCT,” he said.

Anosike noted that before the subsidy removal, some state governments had resorted to borrowing from banks to pay salaries and pensions, adding that increased federal allocations had changed the situation.

He said the additional revenue should now be deliberately channelled towards reducing the financial burden on citizens.

“If Nigerians are asked to bear the pain of subsidy removal, Nigerians must also receive the welfare dividend of subsidy removal. That should become a new social contract,” he said.

The PDP candidate urged state governors to introduce welfare programmes aimed at cushioning the impact of rising costs of transportation, food, healthcare and education.

He proposed a six-point welfare package covering food subsidy, transport subsidy, workers’ welfare, healthcare support, education welfare and youth enterprise development.

According to Anosike, the measures would help reduce the cost of living, create opportunities for young people and provide support for vulnerable members of society.

He also cautioned against an approach to governance that places infrastructure development above citizens’ welfare, arguing that development projects would have limited impact if people could not afford basic necessities.

“People must be alive to use infrastructure. A good government should build roads and feed people, build hospitals and provide healthcare, build schools and support indigent students,” he said.

Anosike said the welfare-focused approach would form part of his administration’s agenda if elected governor of Abia State in 2027.

He added that his proposed administration would combine infrastructure development with programmes designed to improve the living standards and economic prospects of Abians, stressing that the welfare of the people would remain a priority.