Buhari
Following apparent disconnect and observed conflicting
thread of communication amongst leaders of the All Progressives Congress and
key officials and some members of the Federal Executive Council on its economic
policies and the subsidy regime, the Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party, Rivers
State chapter, Bro Felix Obuah says such development portends grave danger to
the nation’s survival as it exposes the lack of proper coordination of the APC
government.
The PDP Chairman made this observation having been
inundated with position statements as well as actions of the APC leaders
towards the current fuel hike and the supposedly deregulation policy and
subsidy removal by the APC.
Bro Obuah recalled that during his electioneering
campaign, President Muhammadu Buhari and the APC leadership told Nigerians that
there was nothing like subsidy, describing it as a scam, assuring that subsidy
removal won’t be an issue to them, if elected. They also organized and
sponsored nationwide protest tagged “Occupy Nigeria” against the removal of
subsidy by the Jonathan Administration in 2012.
This was also responsible for why the 2016 Budget of
the federal government does not contain the subsidy funds.
On May 24, 2015, President Muhammadu Buhari was quoted
to have said “I do not understand what subsidy is”, while on January 15, 2016,
the former Governor of Rivers State and Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi
said “government will not pay subsidy” and that “we are not saying oil subsidy
has been removed”. On the contrary, on May 11, 2016, the Minister of State for
Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachukwu said “Subsidy has been removed” and that “subsidy
removal will sustain supply and reduce suffering”.
Again, on May 14, 2016, the Minister of Information
and Communication, Lai Mohammed said the “removal of subsidy will create 200,
000 jobs and that new fuel price regime was inevitable,” followed by the
national leader of the APC, Bola Ahmed Tinubu who had on May 13, 2016 said
“removal of subsidy, a bold and visible move,” but later supported President
Buhari while Femi Falana condemned price hike on petroleum products.
Surprisingly, Vice President Osinbajo on May 14, 2016
said “federal government has not removed subsidy, but just price hike”.
The PDP Chairman, Bro. Obuah therefore asks, who
should Nigerians believe amongst the APC leaders, when none is ready to admit
or say the truth even when the prevailing situation in the country and their
actions have justified and vindicated the PDP and Jonathan’s administration on
the deregulation efforts.
It is true that the APC government is still not
focused and stable, and it is also important that officials and leaders of the
party admit their failure and inexperience in governance.
The imperative on the federal government now is to do
everything as soon as possible to improve the nation’s economy and reduce
untold hardship and pains on the citizens, the PDP Chairman said.
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