Fuel Subsidy Removal: CD Warns, Plans Civil Unrest |The Source

By Ayodele Oni

The Campaign For Democracy (CD), a pro- democracy group in the country, says it has put Nigerians on alert, to embark on civil unrest in case the Federal Government removes subsidy on fuel.

In a letter to the Chairman, Nigeria Governors Forum, (NGF), Dr Kayode Fayemi, CD condemned the call by the forum on the Federal Government to remove fuel subsidy.

At the end of its visual meeting last week, the NGF, after considering the report of a Committee on Subsidy Removal, headed by Kaduna State Governor, Malam El- Rufai, called on the Federal Government to, urgently, stop subsidizing fuel costs.

If subsidy is removed, it may raise the price of premium motor spirit, known as petrol, to as high as ₦380 from the current ₦163, which Nigerians still consider as high.

The CD, in the letter, signed by its National Secretary, Pastor Ifeanyi Odili, warned that: “If a dime is added to the price of fuel in this country, we will lead the rest of Nigerians to flush out APC from the Nigerian political space.

“Under this APC Government, Nigerians have been badly frustrated, as well, intimidated under the watch of NGF.

“Sir, you will agree with us that our fuel is being diverted and smuggled out of Nigeria by certain powerful business and political class. Sometime, ago, according to Mr Ibe Kachikwu, Minister of State for Petroleum, ‘a large volume of petroleum products is diverted by corrupt senior government officials.’

“Kachikwu said these officials connive with marketers and transport owners to divert already subsidized fuel from depots to neighboring West African countries including Cameroon, Chad, Togo and Benin. This is what CD thinks NGF should address rather than inflicting further pains on Nigerians.

“You will also recall that Nigerians took to the streets on Monday, 2nd January, 2012, in reaction to the fuel subsidy removal by the Federal Government of President Goodluck Jonathan on Sunday, 1st January, 2012.

“Protests raged across the country and at the premises of the Nigerian High Commission in London. The protests were characterized by civil disobedience, civil resistance, strike actions, demonstrations. We ask again, which subsidy, differently, from the one refered to herein, is NGF talking about?

“It is surprising to us and many Nigerians that NGF which ought to be a refuge for the suffering masses of Nigeria can be seen to parade itself around with the intent to impose further hardship on the already pained Nigerians.

“Since the inception of the present APC led federal government, Nigeria’s economic and security situation has gone from worse to worst, it has been worsened, deteriorated and impaled more than the dark days of the military eras.

“The said APC government has decorated Nigerians with sorrow and unending gnashing of teeth.

“We make bold to say that Nigerians have been in frustration since the adventure of APC in government. We feel it is enough. Enough of APC misrule! We stand to reject further pains on Nigerian people.”