NGOs, CSOs Threaten Civil Unrest Over Hike In Fuel, Electricity Prices
By: Ese Paul, Benin City
Anger and condemnation yesterday trailed the increase in petroleum and electricity prices as some Non-governmental, and Civil Society Organisations NGO/CSOs staged a protest calling on President Muhammadu Buhari to reverse it
The Protestors further threatened civil unrests should the President fail to reverse the trend.
The Protestors made the call at the NUJ Press Centre carrying various inscriptions saying ” No to Electricity Hike price,” No to Fuel price,” Nigeria belongs to all of us,” To hate the poor is a sin,” among other.
Speaking on behalf of the protesters, former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Edo State, Barrister Osagie Obayuwana called on President Muhammdu Buhari to reverse the price
“If this demands are not met, we will show President Buhari that he is a public servant. That we are the government by serving him a notice and we shall declare civil disobedience of the highest order. We feel the pain and we cannot tolerate the oppression,”
“We are here to protest the hike in fuel and electricity prices. We are offended that, the President, has the audacity to say that we should expect more increase. It is unfortunate that he and his collaborators can put us in pain”
“It cannot work. Nigerian people are saying no more increase in fuel and electricity price. How can the President turn over 20O million Nigerians into target or market of people less than 50% to please his friends and relatives. Every house and office have been turned involuntary to BEDC for extortion. ”
“They choose what they are going to charge the masses. They make us pay even though they don’t give us light. Nigeria has not made any progress as far as electricity is concerned. They are making billions of naira and making us pay for darkness. While, we are contending with that, they are forcing us to use generators.”
“No Journalists can work without power, so other people. We have been exporting crude oil since 1958. He recalled that, “President Muhammadu Buhari during his campaign boasted he will build one refinery every year, as part of fixing the existing refineries. Has he done that? No. ”
The protesters alleged that failure to fix the refinery was intentionally and aimed at paving way for some people to benefit. What has been done in electricity sector is what they want to do in petroleum sector. The Constitution forbids the concentration of wealth in the hands of the few by privatizing electricity supply. ”
“For anybody to imagine that we Nigerians we continue to tolerate this, is impossible. This is a movement that a new Nigeria is in a process of being born. We are sending this word to President Muhammdu Buhari to reverse the electricity and fuel hike.”Obayuwana said.
Responding to the protesters, NUJ chairman, Comrade Roland Osakwe, assured the protesters that the fight they combat for all Nigerians. He said the media will join them in the struggle.
Comrade Osakwe described the increased in fuel and electricity price as a shame of the nation democracy.
