January 6, 2012 by Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa 6 Comments

A debate on removal of subsidy on fuel almost turned violent in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, on Thursday when a group of newspaper readers confronted a man who tried to support the initiative.

The man identified simply as Samson was nearly beaten for his contributions on the fuel subsidy removal dispute at the popular newsstand in Amarata Park.

Samson, who was also at the place to catch a glimpse of newspaper headlines, infuriated other readers when he tried to justify the action of the Federal Government.

His argument that the long-term benefits of subsidy removal would help to create more jobs and reposition the economy of the country did not go down well with his listeners as the angry readers consisting of unemployed youths and commercial motorcyclists asked him to keep his mouth shut.

But Samson, the only proponent in the debate, was said to have remained adamant, contending that the pains of the initiative would be temporary and that it was necessary for the government to free funds for development.

It was learnt that his stubbornness drew the ire of others who engaged him in a shouting match which almost degenerated into a fight.

Noticing that he had been outnumbered and that the atmosphere was becoming tensed, he immediately shut his mouth and quietly withdrew from the aggrieved readers.

Meanwhile, the high cost of transport arising from the removal of the subsidy on fuel forced most government workers to remain indoors in the state capital.

The state secretariat was deserted as most civil servants stayed away from their offices.

The premises of the secretariat were devoid of its usual vehicular movements and there were just a few cars parked around the area when our correspondent visited.

Some residents complained that workers who went to their coastal communities for the holiday could not return to work owing to increase in transport fare.

Others, however, blamed the workers’ attitude on lack of official assignments arising from the feud between the Peoples Democratic Party and the state Governor, Chief Timipre Sylva.

There were few cars on the roads just as traders in some of the markets around the city complained of low patronage.