3 million protest against fuel subsidy

Posted by admin Latest Politics, Oil Politics Thursday, January 12th, 2012

CIVIL society groups, on Wednesday, said it saluted the courage of Nigerians and appreciated the fact that the main rallies against the fuel subsidy removal by the Federal Government had so far registered over three million protesters with many more yet-to-be enumerated clusters springing up.

This came as the groups urged Nigerians at home and the Diaspora to sustain the ongoing protests as the strike action called by organised labour entered day three.

The groups also saluted the courage of Nigerians in the Diaspora who had also carried out protests and supported the struggle in many ways.

According to them, the important message was that Nigerians were resolved that the current campaign was beyond the mere dynamics of reversing the pump price of petrol to N65 per litre.

They stated that it was inclusive of combating what they described as the corruption, incompetence and deception of the President Goodluck Jonathan-led administration.

Dr Jibrin Ibrahim, Director, Centre for Democracy and Development; Ayodeji Ajayeoba, President, United Action for Democracy; Ayisha Osori, Director, Advocates for Change and Social Justice; Dr Otive Igbuzor, Executive Director, Centre LSD andDr Hussaini Abdu, Country Director, Action Aid Nigeria spoke on behalf of the groups.

They maintained that they were holding responsible the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi; Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, and the Petroleum Minister, Diezani Allision-Maduekwe for allegedly truncating the dialogues that should have preceded the subsidy removal.

They frowned on what they noted as the current consistent spin efforts spearheaded by them on the inconsistencies by public officials and the distortion of facts to deceive and confuse Nigerians on the issues at stake.

They said: “We are emboldened that more cities and towns have now joined in our mass action and others are on the flanks waiting to join by the third day. Cities where protests are growing include Ijebu-Ode, Sagamu, Ilaro, Abuja, Bwari, Kuje, Gwagwalada, Rubochi, Osogbo, Ojota, Ilupeju, Badagry, Lafia, Bauchi, Warri, Makurdi, Kano, Owerri, and Kaduna, Ado-Ekiti.

“We salute the courage of Nigerians as we appreciate the fact that the main rallies have registered over three million protesters with many more yet-to-be enumerated clusters springing up.

“We commend patriotic journalists and media practitioners that have striven to maintain and amplify the voice of the people, without cowering to the propaganda and corrupt practices being perpetrated by the corrupt government of Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.

“We hold responsible the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, and the Petroleum Minister, Diezani Allision-Maduekwe for truncating the dialogues that should have preceded the subsidy removal.

“We frown at the current consistent spin efforts spearheaded by them on the inconsistencies by public officials and the distortion of facts to deceive and confuse Nigerians on the issues at stake.”

-Tribune

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