Fuel Subsidy Scam Alert
It will be an understatement to call this current government, a confused hypocritical crop of leaders. Their actions and inactions from day one in Aso Villa have been experimentalism. To be candid, a nation like Nigeria does not need leaders who will keep toiling in governance laboratory to culture every critical sector as sample. We don't need leaders who will apply this method today, remove it tomorrow and bring it back later.
The capped pump price of N145/litre for PMS as announced on 11th May, 2016 was an economy suicidal joke taking too far. Let me state it clearly to all, this decision was neither deregulation nor subsidy regime exit. The reasons given by FG were halfhearted, unstable, insincere and irresponsible. For a self-acclaimed responsible government to stand on supply scarcity, exchange rate of N285 to $1 when naira has not been officially devalued, N500bn palliative measures in 2016 budget and parallel market patronage by fuel marketers to arrive at this current pump price is disheartening.
Why are they behaving like elder brother to devil? It is devil that will give something and take it back in multiple fold, but in their case they are even taking much from innocent public before giving any? If it is deregulation, why capped price? Or is it FEC that is fixing AGO pump price?
The same change agents that turned N1000 to N950 in current account as stamp duty, doubled electricity tariff for darkness, proposing toll fee and 10% VAT, has brought on us N145/litre.
Why should a government that claim subsidy is not existing brought back this topic?
Why should same Buhari who later admit that touching subsidy will topple other commodities removed it?
Why should the same government that celebrate nonpayment of subsidy on fuel for two to three months came back to be paying same?
Why should a government that is making illegal profit of over N10/litre from PMS in February now crying broke again?
Why should a government that is paying N12.80k as subsidy on a litre of PMS as at May 3rd now announced N58.50k increase on 11th May of same year?
Why are we paying subsidy when oil price in global market is $40/barrel and naira is still N198 officially?
Were they day dreaming when they were calling for increase in crude oil price when we can't refine what we are consuming?
Where are those refineries that came to optimal levels as a result of body language of the New Sheriff?
What is happening to fuel pricing calculator used by Mr Fashola and others when oil price dropped in 2014?
These questions are begging for answers from our change agents.
For those political illiterates that are supporting this hike in fuel price as a sacrifice of change that we must all make, check these. Why should a President of Change involve in all these at the expense of our lean purse?
- four media aides for propaganda and damage control,
- two special advisers on National Assembly Matters,
- Presidential fleets
- twenty-six foreign trips in twelve months,
- N940m for grazing reserve,
- campaign after election called town hall meeting and so on.
Without mincing words, this government should look inward and stop lying to us.
Removing subsidy on fuel when there is none and without capable refineries to meet our needs is like taking a dried fish to the furnace.
Before the official price of N145/litre, common commodities have skyrocketed in prices. Just to mention a few, a bag of rice was N7000 in May 2015 but now N15000, gaari from N100 to N250, a pack of Spagethi from N110 to N200, a basket of Tomatoes moved from N5000 to N25000. So for those Buharists that are saying PDP members are the ones complaining and condemning this government, my advice for them is to visit common man market.
No matter how Buhari and his spin's doctors are doctoring this hike in fuel price it will not change its name. You cannot because of promising some faceless people N5000 monthly to be robbing innocent public over N50/litre.
Buhari and APC government should state clearly where they are standing on this sensitive sector.
If there are no fools there will be no liars.
APC CHANGE!!!
Ifedayo Obi,
[email protected]
(Lead Partner of Good Governance Advocates)