The south-south youth leaders forum has condemned the recent move by the Federal Government to re introduce tolls on the High Ways on the excuse that such fees will enable them improve the state of the Roads.
The group also tagged as insensitive and wicked plans by the Government to remove crude oil subsidy and increase tariffs on electricity under the guise of revenue generation.
In a statement signed by the forum’s chairman, Ambassador Amachree Odiedim, made available to Pointblanknews.com, it warned that President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration risked a civil unrest which would include ” occupy Aso Rock”
The forum, while urging Jonathan to sack his advisers and disband his economic team, said unless there is a reversal of these proposed policies, the Jonathan’s administration would be remembered as the worst ever in the annals of the nation’ s history.
According to the forum “Meanwhile we still vividly remember, that former President Olusegun Obasanjo, abolished TOLL GATES in Nigeria, while he sought to remove fuel subsidy, saying the burden will be too heavy for Nigerians.”
The forum said “The same man (GEJ) who’s cardinal campaign point was the fact that Nigerians did not experience increase in fuel price, has turned around in
just few months of being Voted into Power to stab Nigerians at the back by taking steps to rocket the price of fuel, from N65.00 to N150.00. Per litre, In the name of Removal of Fuel Subsidy.”
The forum lamented further ” It is no secret as both Nigerians and Foreigners are well aware that”POWER” electricity is Nigeria’s biggest challenge, yet the Federal Government is taking steps and has vowed to increase Electricity Tariffs, which is an attempt to make Nigerians pay for that which does not exist.”
The present Economic Team, according to the forum,” lacks the capacity to be proactive in their thinking, the nation has witness rapid increase in the sales of crude oil, following the relative peace in the Niger Delta, yet nothing tangible has been done with such resources, in fact Nigerians even face tougher times now than ever.”
The forum then asked “Will it be too much for the Federal Government to build a SEA PORT in YAURI, KEBBI STATE ? Is it also an impossibility to have an INTERNATIONAL MARKET in KANO STATE, these are infrastructures that will by all means improve the plight of young people in the Northern part of Nigerian, as well as impart on the Economy of our country, what then is the problem with the BRASS LNG, in BAYELSA STATE.”
The forum added “Mr. President, your Economic Team is bankrupt in ideas, and the problem of Nigeria has gone way above political party borders, it is high time you get good thinkers on board to move this nation forward, not minding if they voted for you or not, or whether they are in your good books, we are tired of backward movement as a nation, it would have been better if we are stagnant.”
The forum then warned “Sequel to this we are all waiting, and will vehemently resist all inhuman policies of the Federal Government, especially that of the planed REMOVAL OF FUEL SUBSIDY! We shall occupy ASO ROCK in protest and show the world that we also have the capacity as young people to effect positive change.”