Read group’s shocking response to Dino Melaye on fuel subsidy removal

– A civil society group have called on Nigerians to shun the call for protest by Dino Melaye and some unions on the fuel subsidy removal.

– The group also asked Melaye to use his salary and allowances to import fuel from other countries if he so wishes

A civil society group, Stand Up (SUN) Nigeria has urged all Nigerians to ignore the threat issue by the Kogi state senator to general Muhammadu Buhari on the subsidy removal.

Following the announcement of the fuel subsidy removal by the minister of state for petroleum, Ibe Kachikwu, the Kogi west senator threatened to mobilize Nigerians against the President, Muhammadu Buhari.

Melaye said if the subsidy removal is not reversed, the mobilization of citizens will be followed by a protest against the increase in fuel pump price form N86.50 to N145.

But the group’s national coordinator, Philip Agebse on Friday said Melaye’s threat is a decision by the senator to take a break from defending corruption at the Code of Conduct Tribunal.

He said the fact that a member of the National Assembly is requesting for the sustainability of subsidy which was not included in the recently passed 2016 budget is worrisome.

Agbese further called on the lawmaker to desist from asking the president to break the same law he passed as a lawmaker with his colleagues in the senate.

“An Appropriation Act is a law and the National Assembly exists to ensure the executive does not spend outside the budget approved in the act, we do not need legal expert to tell us that Dino Melaye is asking the Presidency to break the same law he passed as a lawmaker with his colleagues.

“We do not know the extent to which the notorious subsidy cabal has reached out to some paid activist but we know that it is time for Nigerians to remove Dino Melaye’s influence from public opinion same way subsidy has been removed from petrol.

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“Even before the expiration of the ultimatum given by several groups including the one by Melaye, we want to sound this clearly that Nigerians are no longer subsidizing life of pleasure and luxury,” Agbese said.

He added that the senator’s protest threats are cheap and aimed at distorting the development process of Nigeria.

“Nigerians are not intimidated by Melaye’s protests threats, if he wants cheap petrol, authorities have declared that anyone can import so he should use his salary and allowances from the Senate for such purposes,” he said.

Agbese also called on the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Unions Congress to also desist from call for protests and rather support the efforts of President Buhari in keeping his promise of fighting corruption.

“NLC and TUC would do well to be reminded of the aftermath of the Occupy Protests, their officials exploited it as opportunity to get juicy panel and committee appointments after they criminally hijacked and called off protests that they did not initiate.

“The masses, who by the way are mostly in support of the federal government decision, will never again be used as bargaining chips by ambitious unionists,” he said

SUN also warned the Nigerian government and the president that the activities of individuals like Melaye, the NLC and TUC is an indication that the cabal will stop at nothing including sustained sabotage to get their fix of slush funds.

“We acknowledge with great satisfaction the decision of the federal government to finally and completely end payment of subsidy on petrol thereby ending years of the reign of kleptomanias that have stolen the country blind.

“This decision is timely as its effect will include fuel queues dissipating across the country in record time.

“The boldness to remove subsidy has confirmed that this government has listening ears by responding to the clamour of Nigerians who are tired of suffering the hardship of fuel shortages and long queues whenever the cabal decides to create artificial shortage to blackmail the government into parting with billions of public funds.

“We therefore salute President Muhammadu Buhari and his team for placing the interest of the masses above popularity” he said.

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