– Lagos PDP Endorses Occupy Nigeria Protest Warns Against Hijack
Like a local spark that spreads in wild savannah like an harmattan wildfire, with the killing of an undergraduate computer science student Muyideen Mustapha in Ilorin on Tuesday, citizens adrenalin pumped to heavens as labour unions in Nigeria have vowed to shut down the country’s productive capabilities until the government of Goodluck Jonathan reverses its removal of oil products subsidies.
The subsidy removal on oil products now makes Nigerian gas pump the costliest anywhere in the world at an average
of $34.40 per gallon. Even Americans with better per capita income are not paying as much as what Nigerians who most times make miserable $2.00 a day pay for gas.
The powerful labour unions in the country have now decided to follow the example of the civil society, students and activists, they have served notice on the administration on the need to back track. The demonstrations have seen gas stations like Oouaando touched. The cabinet meeting presided over in Abuja on Wednesday fumbled for appropriate response to the protests which have now spread to Birnin-Kebbi and other northern capitals.
Even soldiers and Policemen are being advised to resist their usual murderous tendencies of firing the gun on defenceless citizens in order to defend the morally bankrupt decisions of the corrupt leaders of Nigeria.
Nigerians who do not usually stay too long on their anger and frustrations seem determined to wrestle their tormentors to the ground on the flawed subsidy removal decision.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State has warned against the possible hijacking of fuel subsidy removal protest by those it called “artificial activists”.
The PDP said the protesters had a legitimate right to protest, but that it should be devoid of violence.
“We urge the protesters to ensure that the protest is peaceful. The Lagos PDP has thrown its weight behind the right of the people to hold peaceful protest.
“We believe Lagosians should not protest behind some activists with selfish interests,” the party said in a statement signed by its Director of Publicity, Mr Taofik Gani, on Tuesday.
Civil society groups and labour took to the streets in Lagos on Tuesday to protest the fuel subsidy removal by the government.
The removed led to a raise in the pump price of petrol from N65 per litre to between N141 and N145 per litre in Lagos Metropolis.
The PDP said the activists, who participated in the protest, were only seeking relevance.
“They are not genuinely on the side of the masses, but they want cheap patronage of the government”, the statement added.
The party, however, criticised some state governors for allegedly withdrawing their support for the removal of the subsidy.
“We are well informed that all the governors, irrespective of their parties, supported the removal of the subsidy.
“The overall interest of Nigerians is indeed greater than that of any group or cabal on the subsidy matter,” the PDP said.