A former governor of Kaduna state, Balarabe Musa, has urged the Federal Government to reverse the N145 new fuel pump price introduced on Wednesday.
Photo: Balarabe Musa [r] and Shehu Sani during the visit of the latter to the former
Mr. Musa, who is also a national leader of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), made the appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Kaduna.
He said the government’s action would inflict more pains on Nigerians.
“We are in trouble; the already bad situation will get worse and it will worsen the poverty level of Nigerians,” he said.
The politician said that he would support the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) planned mass protest to compel the Federal Government to reverse the decision.
He said the proceeds from the new price of the product would only benefit some persons and caucuses within government.
The former governor also urged Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and well-meaning Nigerians to join in imploring the government to reverse the decision for the sake of the masses.
The Minister of State for Petroleum, Ibe Kachikwu, announced the new price of petrol on Wednesday.
SHEHU SANI KICKS AGAINST HIKE
Another popular voice against the hike in fuel price is the Senator representing Kaduna central, Shehu Sani.
Sani said on Thursday that the Muhammadu Buhari-led administration’s decision to increase the pump price of petroleum products is “insensitive and punitive”.
Mr. Sani, who is the chairman Senate committee on Foreign and Domestic debt, said in a statement that the decision was “most unfortunate”.
“At a time when poor Nigerians are facing enormous economic hardships and are being asked to be more patient all the NNPC can do is to add to their suffering,” he said.
“It’s utterly irrational and illogical to further impoverish the people in order to achieve liberal self-serving economic aspirations.
“It’s all evident that capitalist forces are holding the FG hostage and are blackmailing it to implement its inimical version of economic reforms.
“It makes no sense if everyone must perish in order to revamp the economy.
“Economic reforms are necessary but it must be done with a human face and human heart if it’s made in the interest of human beings.
“Outrageous increase in pump price is a social provocation.
“It’s possible to reform the oil sector without necessarily incinerating the country.
“We must not take the patience, the sacrifice and the good will of Nigerians for granted.
“I stand opposed to the increase in pump price and I call on PMB to weigh in on the NNPC to rescind the decision,” Mr. Sani concluded.
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