"the federal government, having boxed itself into a tight corner due to its obnoxious, anti-people policy, is now baring its fangs at perceived enemies, especially members of the opposition, civil society and the unions".

http://www.osundefender.org/?p=25122

ACN condemns arrest of Bugaje, calls for his release.

The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has strongly condemned Tuesday’s arrest of its former National Secretary, Dr. Usman Bugaje, by the State Security Service (SSS) over an interview he granted a radio station on the ongoing fuel pricehike protests across the country, and called for his immediate release.

In a statement issued in Lagos on Tuesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party expressed concern that the federal government, having boxed itself into a tight corner due to its obnoxious, anti-people policy, is now baring its fangs at perceived enemies, especially members of the opposition, civil society and the unions.

”There is nothing that Dr. Bugaje said in that interview that has not been said many times over by other Nigerians since the government decided to over-reach itself by inflicting avoidable pain on the
people in the name of fuel subsidy removal.

”Perhaps Dr. Bugaje’s only sin is that he is a member of the ACN. But our party is not responsible for the unenviable situation in which this rudderless government has found itself. In fact, had the government listened to our wise counsel, it would have avoided the troubles it had now brought on itself,” the party said.

ACN wondered why the federal government is dissipating its energy on targeting and harassing the opposition, when it is confronted with monumental problems, including the worsening cases of insecurity of lives and property, most of which the administration brought upon itself.

ABUJA— Governors of the 36 states of the federation, Thursday, at the National Economic Council, NEC, meeting, backed the recent move by President Goodluck Jonathan to remove the controversial subsidy on petroleum products.

Also Thursday, Minister of Finance and Coordinator of the Economic Management Team, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, prevailed on the governors to drop their earlier decision to scrap the National Sovereign Wealth Fund, SWF, as NEC opted for dialogue between the Federal and state governments.

Addressing State House correspondents after the NEC session which lasted for over six hours, and presided over by Vice- President Namadi Sambo,  Chairman of the Governors’ Forum and Rivers State Governor, Chief Rotimi Amaechi, said the removal of the subsidy was long over- due, as the subsidy had only enriched very few Nigerians.

Gov. Amaechi was joined by governors Peter Obi (Anambra), Liyel Imoke (Cross River), Olusegun Mimiko (Ondo), Abdulaziz Yali (Zamfara) and the Minister of Planning, Dr Shamsudeen Usman.

Amaechi said: “One of the most important issues that we canvassed and decision reached at, was that governors supported the Federal Government’s move to remove subsidy because we believe it is for the interest of this country.

”We will save money for the development of the economy and at the end of the day, we will provide opportunity for the greater number of people.”

He said: “The other issues we discussed were those of education and agriculture and the need to develop agriculture at the state level and necessary support from the Federal Government, the issue of ETF and UBEC and how to get them to support education in the states.

“On SWF, the governors met yesterday and took a position. It is the Federal Government trying to convince the governors to abandon their positions. We are satisfied that it is a conversation we don’t want to escalate. Let’s look at all the issues and when all the issues are on the table and the governors are convinced, we will take a decision. But as of whether a decision has been reached, no decision has been made.”

He noted that “this policy, at the end of the day, i don’t think the governors or the FG can be insensitive to the people that have elected us and put us in office. Don’t forget that this is a civilian government, it is a democratic government that we seek for votes four years after. We must learn to take very difficult decisions”.

“That is what we were elected to do and that decision is to improve on the welfare of our people. So whichever discussion that will escalate the conversation, we are ready for discussion. We are open to discussions and we are open to the fact that there are social safety nets that the federal government is trying to put in place to cushion the effect”.

He explained that “but beyond the fact that the FG is putting up safety nets to cushion the effect, there is also the argument that only a few Nigerians are just gathering money and we are hearing of subsidy. For Christ’s sake, outside the few state capitals in Nigeria, which other place do you have this subsidy operating. I hear some states in the South East are selling fuel for as high as over N100 per litre”.

So there are no ACN governors in governors forum?

Obama should better call his bingo at order before everything falls apart.I still dont why this guy hasnt realize that a large percentage of Nigerians are against his poilcy,so why should he go about arresting opposition even when we are not in the days of Babangida or Abacha ? The masses will continue to mobilize against the evil government of badluck jonathan.

With only one press report, Karl Max has rubbished the statement by ACN. In any event, if Bugaje is innocent, he and ACN should go to court rather than calling on the FG to interfere in the work of the sss

”We will save money for the development of the economy and at the end of the day, we will provide opportunity for the greater number of people.”

Hope the governors and the local people will also be serious with the money