In this interview, the leader of the Ibadan-based Achievers Rock Commission International, Apostle Perez Iyiola Oluyemi spoke on the issue of fuel subsidy removal as well as some other national issues.
On Removal of Petroleum Subsidy
Subsidy removal is a hypocritical term used by the government. There are people behind the scene; a cabal comprising of people who have refineries outside the shores of this country. Nigerians who have ships and are bringing in the refined products into the country.
Subsidy removal is a grand deception by these people who have ostensibly hijacked the government and are now in total control. The issue should have been dead and buried if the government is really sincere about it. Economic analysts and even experts in the field have all said that if we are to refine the product locally, the price per litre of the product should not be more N30. Here the government is still selling it for N65 with about N35 gain.
Now the question is: why are they blocking the refineries from working? If not for continued enslavement of the masses? Even with all the previous subsidy removals and some other increment in the prices of petroleum products- how many roads have they constructed or repaired? The Benin/Ore road is there! Lagos/Ibadan and some other notorious roads that are killing the masses everyday because of government negligence are all there.
Many infrastructural facilities which would have made life easier for masses are still begging for attention. Yet, this insensitive government is hell-bent in removing the subsidy. The big belly that is swallowing the money is still there and if something drastic is not done to change the situation; the masses would continue to suffer from this insensitive government.
But we need to remind the government at this moment that the protesters are the ones ruling the world now. The internet has no doubt made revolution very easy to coordinate. The cabal should also know that the masses are aware of their antics and very soon nemesis would catch up with them. The President must come back to the reality of the Nigerian situation and reverse the subsidy if this country is to remain one. His refusal will only bring more anarchy in the land.
On the Possibility of Nigeria Breaking Up
I have said it several times that Nigeria is sitting on a keg of gun powder. And if the issue of subsidy and Boko Haram are not properly handled by Jonathan, Nigeria may be no more in years to come. Unfortunately, men of God who ought to have intervened are not doing so for their own selfish interest. Like somebody was saying that if the six biggest churches in Nigeria have intervened right from the start; Jonathan would not have removed the subsidy.
On the Silence of Religious Leaders
Unfortunately, some of these so-called men of God are under the payroll of the government and are finding it extremely difficult to speak the truth. Most members of this cabal pay their tithe and offerings to these churches and that is why today you did not hear any of them condemning the subsidy removal. Can you imagine a cluster of Anglican priests coming out to support this unpopular anti-people policy? Are they telling us that all members of their church can actually afford to buy the fuel at this exorbitant price that it is being sold?
I think whoever that is supporting this anti-people policy should have a rethink over it because the masses can come after anybody now irrespective of whom they are. We have seen this in Europe where the masses attacked the churches because of this kind of scenario playing itself out in the country.
On the Review of Salaries of Public Officials
The hardship is too severe on the masses. Let the pain of this heavy horror be borne more by the bourgeoisie who have removed the subsidy. All political office holders- including the president should cut down their outrageous salaries and allowances to implement some of the programs they think is good for the country. We should take a cue from Singapore where the Prime Minister cut down his salaries and that of other political office holders without any form of pressure. It is when they do this that Nigerians will begin to see them as serious and patriotic Nigerians.
On UN Secretary-General Support for Subsidy Removal
Ban ki Moon and his representative that commended the removal of the subsidy removal don’t know the horrific suffering of the masses of this country. They are equally not aware of the hypocrisy that had always trailed the grand deception of subsidy removal in the past in Nigeria.
They need to be told this. On the other hand, using some individuals at this hour to canvass for the integrity of the President is another wound to the people.
Nigerians find it difficult to trust anyone, anymore because of the past betrayals and grand deception that had always trailed the expenditure of gains of the so-called subsidy removal. See, even if we are to give the government benefit of doubt to remove totally the subsidy-we need to have a blueprint of what they are going to do within six months of the removal. They should have announced a time frame for the full implementation of the subsidy removal.
How many jobs are they going to create? How many roads and social amenities are they going to provide? They should be able to provide answers to all these if we are to consider any subsidy removal which for now is demonic to the masses of this country.