[size=15pt]Igbo students ask Okonjo-Iweala, Allison-Madueke to apologise to Nigerians[/size]

By Chris Oji 31 minutes ago





The Confederation of Igbo Students (CIS) is demanding a public apology to Nigerians by the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and Minister of Petroleum, Mrs. Diezani Allison-Madueke for misleading the President and portraying him as being insensitive to the plight of citizens.

They are also asking the President to revert to the old pump price of N65 while a Deregulation Road map be implemented within a specified time frame of four to six months, culminating in the removal of petrol subsidy.

The students’ position was articulated in a statement in Enugu by the national coordinator, Chukwudalu Anaekwe and national secretary, Okechukwu Eze.

While not against the removal of the oil subsidy, the students maintained that the two ministers mishandling of “an otherwise good project has subjected Mr. President to unwarranted insults thereby bringing his popularity rating to an all time low.”

They were of the belief that President Jonathan despite his good intentions was wrongly advised to start deregulation without first putting the necessary building blocks in place.

They approved of the President’s announcement of 25% reduction of the basic salary of all political office holders in the executive tier of Government as a step in the right direction but added that more fundamental action needs to be taken.

They also called on President Jonathan to prosecute the so-called “petrol subsidy cabal” and as well as implement the report of the Senate ad hoc committee on the NNPC so as gain investors’ confidence and restore public trust in his Transformation Agenda.

On the menace of Boko Haram, CIS said it was convinced that Boko Haram’s ultimatum to Southerners to leave the North should not be ignored since they have both the capability and intention to carry out their threat.

“Ndi-Igbo are the most populous Southern ethnic group living in the North and have contributed immensely to the economic development of that part of the country. As such, they (Ndi-Igbo) will be the biggest casualties of such a threat. A review of the list of victims of the Madallah Christmas Day Bombing will buttress the point.”

http://www.thenationonlineng.net/2011/index.php/news/33296-igbo-students-ask-okonjo-iweala-allison-madueke-to-apologise-to-nigerians.html