Today, we
have finally
decided to
respond to the
incompetence
and incoherence
of this
administration
in what has
now turned out
to be a
repeated act
when it comes
to issues of
national
importance
affecting the
daily lives and
indeed the lives
of Nigerians
both home and
abroad.
To be crystal
clear, KOWA
PARTY is
opposed in
totality to the
new fuel price
regime as
announced by
the Buhari-Led
Federal
Government.
We condemn
the insensitivity
of this
administration
and the lack of
empathy on the
situation that
Nigerians
currently face,
not for a
disagreement in
the need to
remove totally
the
cankerworm
that manifests
itself in what
we call
‘subsidy’ or the
need to
deregulate
completely the
downstream
sector of the
petroleum
industry. Our
condemnation
arises out of
rational and
emotional
consideration
on the
experiences and
the situation
that Nigerians
are currently
facing.
It is
unbelievable
and almost
inhumane that
the Federal
Government
after subjecting
Nigerians to
almost a year
of suffering in
different
shades of
queues, sweat
and commodity
price hikes
decided to
subject
Nigerians to
more suffering
just a few days
after a form of
hope was
restored when
the
controversial
budget was
finally passed.
President Buhari
was quoted as
saying that he
feels the pains
of Nigerians and
that he hears
our cries. We
are forced to
ask if this
quote was
indeed Mr
President’s
original
thoughts or the
thoughts of the
speechwriter
whose job it
was to draft
the ceremonial
speech.
In the same
vein that we
understand
that the budget
for ‘subsidy’
was not
included in the
signed budget
for the year
2016, we also
understand
that plans for
an increase in
the minimum
wage was not
included in the
budget thereby
ensuring that
the suffering
that Nigerians
have endured
for the past
one year for
both lack of
policy direction
and incoherent
policies is about
to be doubled
owing to the
almost doubled
price of
Nigeria’s most
important
commodity in
demand
without any
inch of
corresponding
increase in the
average
Nigerian’s
salary/wage.
This is simply a
scenario of
Good Policy with
a Bad Timing
and KOWA
PARTY would
not have
overseen this
kind of policy
move.
As is evident
that there is
never a good
timing for a
hard choice/
decision, the
circumstances
surrounding this
policy move at
such a time as
this is due to
the previous
forex policy on
devaluation
(which is
reportedly now
to be pursued)
when this
administration
against all
rational
economic advice
refused to
review at a
time when its
effects would
have been
cushioned by
average
Nigerians by
now. Should the
occupants of
Aso Villa not
know, let them
be told that the
ripple effect of
this fuel price
hike coupled
with the
devaluation
that is (if
reports are to
go by) soon to
come is simply
too much for
Nigerians to
bear.
Nigerians must
now rally
together to
demand
accountability,
palliatives and
viable
alternatives
from this
government.
Nigerians must
begin to ask
that a detailed
plan of projects
in the ministry
of works,
power, housing
and
transportation
that have the
ability to
provide jobs
and create
easing
measures from
the effects of
these policies
be provided and
unlike the
Minister of
Information
who thinks he
owes no
Nigerian any
explanation,
Nigerians must
begin to
demand for
explanations,
project sites
openings,
results and the
implementation
of the budget
and accept
nothing less
and NO MORE
EXCUSES.
As a show of
faith, We also
demand that
the cost of
governance be
cut to the
barest
minimum as
much as
possible. The
notion that it is
the masses
that must
suffer the
incompetence
and the
inefficiency of
government
must stop. If
‘subsidy’ has to
be removed,
then the
exorbitant cost
of running the
government
has to be
reduced too.
While we
continue to
hope that the
Buhari Led
Government
has not begun
to take
Nigerians, the
patience we
have had in
suffering for
the last one
year and our
resilience for
granted, we
implore all
Nigerians to
keep the HOPE
of the
possibility of a
better Nigeria,
if not now, in
the years to
come.
May God Bless
the Federal
Republic of
Nigeria
Signed
Jude ‘Feranmi
(JFK)
National Youth
Leader,
KOWA PARTY