http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/01/subsidy-protest-acn-decries-growing-sectionalisation/
On January 15, 2012 · In News

LAGOS – The Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, yesterday, said it was concerned that, with what may be the tacit support of people in the highest echelon of power, the ongoing fuel subsidy issue was increasingly being turned to a sectional matter.

It expressed concern about the agenda allegedly being pursued by President Goodluck Jonathan and his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

In a statement in Lagos, by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said: “Going by the myriad of newspaper advertisements placed in recent times by several Ijaw and South-South groups (which we hope do not represent the general opinion in the region), and the inflammatory rhetoric spewing out of the mouth of respected leaders in the region, there may be a hidden agenda in some quarters to push the country to the brink, or even bring the house crashing down on all, as we have warned earlier.

“The increasing attack on other geo-political zones and ethnic groups as well as individual politicians by these apparently-sponsored adverts, simply because Nigerians have said ‘NO’ to what they considered an insensitive, oppressive and senseless fuel subsidy removal, shows what can happen when a leader, fails to consider the socio-political impact of what he perceives merely as an economic policy.”

ACN said it was nothing short of a monumental insult for any person or group to infer that the spontaneous and unprecedented nationwide mass action that has greeted the removal of fuel subsidy was being sponsored by the so-called failed politicians, or for any person or group to make such an irresponsible statement that the bulk of the fuel subsidy was consumed in Lagos, even when it is clear that Lagos is a melting pot that is home to people of all ethnic groups.

The party said one of the groups even said it would not mind if the fuel subsidy removal – which it (the group) supports by the way – ends up making President Jonathan the last President of a united Nigeria!

“Imagine, for a moment, that this inflammatory and inciting statement had been made by a group other than the one from the South-South! Those behind such group would by now have been threatened with treason charges, that is if they have not yet been arrested. Yet, this is the kind of rhetoric that these South-South groups have been ditching out since the fuel protests started, and the Presidency has not deemed it necessary to distance itself from such dead-enders or to repudiate them.

“Suddenly, a President that was purportedly given a pan-Nigeria mandate only a few months back is now being made to look more and more like a South-South President, who must be ‘protected’ by his ‘supporters and kinsmen’ against failed politicians from the other regions, forgetting that the same President won the last election because of the support of the other regions that are now being demonized.

“Progressively, but sadly, the Jonathan Presidency is being defined as a South-South Presidency by those who have failed to see that the mess the country has been thrown into under his watch — over the fuel subsidy and the Boko Haram issues — is a fallout of a leadership that has lied to and cheated its people on the subsidy issue, and a presidency that has allowed the Boko Haram issue to fester for too long without a decisive and creative initiative to nip it in the bud.

“Simply put, Nigerians feel betrayed by this President by the way he has handled these issues, hence he has lost their trust and confidence. This is neither a South-South vs the rest of the regions issue, or the result of an incitement by imagined enemies.”

The party reiterated its earlier call on all people of goodwill, including former leaders acting together, to call President Jonathan to order before he allows those who have other agenda, or those who are championing neo-colonial interests, to doom his presidency and push the country into perdition.

It advised President Jonathan that in a democracy, the people are supreme and their voices and opinions must matter on every issue, more than the self-serving postulations of a benevolent few who happened to have found themselves in government.

[size=28pt]“The increasing attack on other geo-political zones and ethnic groups as well as individual politicians by these apparently-sponsored adverts, simply because Nigerians have said ‘NO’ to what they considered an insensitive, oppressive and senseless fuel subsidy removal, shows what can happen when a leader, fails to consider the socio-political impact of what he perceives merely as an economic policy.”[[/size]

Negro_Ntns:

SS has shown its immaturity at leading the country or keeping a steady head to demonstrate neutrality. It is lessons learnt, next time they produce their son or daughter for Presidency we know to use Gej regime as a yardstick of measure and reject candidates from SS. The igbos are living testimony of that. They s c r e wed their chances and its been over 40yrs now since they had a son in that seat. If you dont temper your responses and threats, GEJ could very well be your last taste on the seat for another 100yrs, assuming nIGERIA last that long into the future.

The large turn-out of the members of the [size=16pt]group who came in about 100 buses hindered the free flow of traffic along Oworonsoki/Third Mainland bridge, Ojota, and Maryland.
[/size]
The rally, which was the second Faseun would organised for Obasanjo, was however peaceful without any interference or molestation from the police.

[size=16pt]Addressing the rally, Faseun who spoke in Yoruba scored Obasanjo's administration high on all fronts, maintaining that the regime has brought the country out of the woods.[/size]

He specifically stated that Obasanjo's leadership qualities have brought peace to the country and [size=16pt]praised the President for "removing thieves, robbers, fraudsters and deadwoods from our public service".
[/size]
The OPC leader, who spoke occassionally in proverbs to buttress some of his points maintained that, the president has successfully launched the nation back into the comity of nations through his virile foreign policies since it assumed power.

[size=16pt]He added that an example of the dividends of the foreign policy of the government is the forthcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting(CHOGM) and the State Visit of Queen Elizabeth of England.
[/size]
According to him, this is significant because the same Commonwealth suspended Nigeria in the days of Abacha and consequently made Nigeria a pariah nation.

He also cited as example the recently held All African Games(COJA) saying that all these show that Nigeria has been fully re-integrated into the world socio-political environment.

[size=16pt]The OPC leader chided the president's critics, describing them as pessimists and adding that Rome was not built in a day.
[/size]
He consequently called on them to give Obasanjo a chance to develop the country and complete what he called the good work the administration has started.

[size=16pt]He urged Yorubas to rally round Obasanjo, their kinsman adding that should he be disgraced out of office, it will take the Southwest up to 2047 to produce another Nigerian president going by the four years, two-term formula.[/size]

majority of the SS do not know dialogue and conflict resolution. they resolve all problems with violence. this has been admitted on pages of nl in previous discussions on bloodletting and killings of rival cult members.

Negro_Ntns:

Birds of same feather flock together. . . . their coalition with SE is a harmonious match.

Nchara:

Faseun Canvasses Support for Obasanjo
By Tokunbo Adedoja
Traffic was yesterday brought to a stand-still for about three hours on the old toll-gate/ 7up axis in Ikeja following a rally organised in support of President Olusegun Obasanjo by the founder leader of the Oodua Peoples Congress(OPC), Dr. Fredrick Faseun.

The rally, which kicked off at about 11am was attended by hundreds of members of the Yoruba militia group from various parts of Lagos and neigbouring states in the Southwest.

The large turn-out of the members of the group who came in about 100 buses hindered the free flow of traffic along Oworonsoki/Third Mainland bridge, Ojota, and Maryland.

The rally, which was the second Faseun would organised for Obasanjo, was however peaceful without any interference or molestation from the police.

Addressing the rally, Faseun who spoke in Yoruba scored Obasanjo's administration high on all fronts, maintaining that the regime has brought the country out of the woods.

He specifically stated that Obasanjo's leadership qualities have brought peace to the country and praised the President for "removing thieves, robbers, fraudsters and deadwoods from our public service".

The OPC leader, who spoke occassionally in proverbs to buttress some of his points maintained that, the president has successfully launched the nation back into the comity of nations through his virile foreign policies since it assumed power.

He added that an example of the dividends of the foreign policy of the government is the forthcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting(CHOGM) and the State Visit of Queen Elizabeth of England.

According to him, this is significant because the same Commonwealth suspended Nigeria in the days of Abacha and consequently made Nigeria a pariah nation.

He also cited as example the recently held All African Games(COJA) saying that all these show that Nigeria has been fully re-integrated into the world socio-political environment.

The OPC leader chided the president's critics, describing them as pessimists and adding that Rome was not built in a day.

He consequently called on them to give Obasanjo a chance to develop the country and complete what he called the good work the administration has started.

He urged Yorubas to rally round Obasanjo, their kinsman adding that should he be disgraced out of office, it will take the Southwest up to 2047 to produce another Nigerian president going by the four years, two-term formula.

He threatened those that may be planning to remove the present admnistration from power, adding that OPC is solidly behind the president.

"They think because he does not enjoy Yoruba support, they want to upset him. If they should force Obasanjo out of office, we will tell them what OPC stands for", he said.

He, however, dispelled rumour that he was sponsored by the government to stage the rally saying "all of you know me, I can't be bribed, but no one's child can be so bad that the parents will throw him out for wild animals to consume him".

http://www.nigerianmuse.com/nigeriawatch/?u=Lagos_Strike_September_2005.htm
Independent
Thursday 15th September, 2005

Fuel Rally: Thousands march in Lagos, demand old price
• No negiotiation, says NLC • New price threatens security – Tinubu

• Nigeria project under Obasanjo a failure – Soyinka • FG hails Lagos rally

By Wisdom Patrick,
Emmanuel Ukudolo,
Lekan Sanni (Lagos)
And Chesa Chesa (Abuja)

Lagosians, at the behest of Labour, filed out in their tens of thousands on Wednesday to give the federal authorities a piece of their mind on “bad governance” which they say has boiled over with the new price of fuel that has shot up the cost of everything else: Plus water and gari.

“Revolution now”; “Enough is enough; merchants of impoverishment go home”; “Stop importation. Make our refineries work”; “The will of the masses must be respected, no to fuel price increase” were some of the inscriptions on the placards they carried as they stomped the streets from Surulere to Alausa (Ikeja).

It was all peaceful though; to the delight of Abuja, which promptly commended the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) for making its point without a show of aggression – and the police for ensuring the safety of  life and limb and property.

But Abuja stuck to its guns on the price hike, a position conveyed after a Federal Executive Council (FEC) which held as the NLC kicked off the Lagos leg of the national rally billed to hold in strategic cities on different days.   

The protesters blamed mainly the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank, the government as well as Finance Minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, for the hardship faced by the masses at a time “when they should be enjoying as a result of the high prices of crude oil” on the international market.

Those who spoke included NLC President, Adams Oshiomhole, Nobel Laureate, Wole Soyinka, Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) President, Ibrahim Kano, Leader of the Joint Action Forum (JAF), Beko Ransome-Kuti and Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) Leader, Frederick Fasehun.  All spoke of the negative effect of an economic theory “imposed on the Nigerian people” by the IMF and the World Bank.

They marched from the National Stadium, Surulere to deliver a letter to Governor Bola Tinubu in Ikeja for onward transmission to President Olusegun Obasanjo.

The letter was signed by Oshiomhole, Ransome-Kuti, Trade Union Congress (TUC) President, Peace Obiajulu and Princewill Ojeh of the Congress of Free Trade Unions (CFTU).

Oshiomhole, who presented the letter, also raised questions which he would like Obasanjo to answer.

“When Obasanjo assumed office in 1999”, he began, “crude oil was selling at $16 per barrel on the international market, while the product was being sold to local refineries at $9.50. Even at that, the government was making a profit of $5 since local cost of production was $4.

“Today, crude oil is being sold at between $65 and $70 per barrel, while the government projection is $30”.

He regretted that, even with an additional revenue of over 150 per cent, the railways are not working, the school system is in a shambles with Nigerians sending their children to Ghanaian universities, while power supply is as epileptic as ever.

He added that when the government announced an increase in fuel price from N20, it promised to repair roads and provide seven million jobs, but six years on, the roads are still in a terrible shape, the refineries are still not working.

“Who are the ones not making the refineries work? Nigerians want to know. Who are the importers of petroleum products that we consume. Why are the refineries not working?”

Tinubu said he shares in “the grieve, anger and the rejection” of the price hike, “which is unnecessary because what is needed to be done in the last six years to reduce the suffering of the people has not been done”.

He described the increase as a threat to national security because of its social and economic implications.

“Nigeria needs a change. The PDP government lacks in focus, it is wasteful and entrenches mediocrity in the national polity and is a party of chop and chop”, he insisted.

“Our (Lagos) government believes that petroleum product is so critical to major sectors of economic activity, including transportation, agriculture and manufacturing, that incessant increases in the price of the commodity has a direct bearing on poverty levels.

“There is certainly no way the more than 10 fuel price increases between June 1, 2000 and August 26, 2005 can be justified. We doubt if there is any country in the world with this incredible record”.

Tinubu also kicked against the plan to pay $12 billion to the IMF, saying no nation would use a chunk of its wealth to pay debts at a go. Rather, he said the money should be used to revamp the economy, repair infrastructure and raise the standard of education.

Soyinka said the Nigerian project is possible, but only in an egalitarian society which recognises the equality of all.

However, he explained, the division among the masses has made it possible for the ruling class to impoverish them.

He called on the people to put aside short-term gain for long and sustainable solution.

He asked what has happened to the dream of the founding fathers of Nigeria.

The dream is still realisable, he enthused, “but certainly not under this government. This government has no answer to Nigerians’ problems. Obasanjo told me in 1999 that he wants to build an egalitarian society which all Nigerians would be part of, contribute their quotas, and benefit at the end of such sacrifices, but today I think he has lost focus. So the time is up, the people have spoken.

“The labour of our heroes past and their dream are still achievable. It is still possible, it could still be done, but certainly not under Obasanjo and his gang or his cabal. They have to give us way. This project would be possible in the hands of the people. So get ready to fight. I am ready to walk on foot from Lagos to Abuja if that would change the present situation”.

Oshiomhole added: “This is just the beginning. Our message to this government is very clear: You must revert to the old pump price of fuel. Don’t call for negotiations because we would not come. You have no other option but to go back to the old price. The people have spoken. They call themselves a listening government in Abuja and we expect them to listen. The only way we would know they are a listening government is when they revert to old pump price of petrol”.

The FEC praised Labour for keeping the rally peaceful. But it insisted on the new pump price of fuel.

Its meeting was chaired by Vice President, Atiku Abukabar, and its outcome was passed on to reporters by Labour and Productivity Minister, Hassan Lawal.

He said the FEC commended the police for “guiding and guarding” the rally peacefully, noting that the NLC’s conduct so far has been a healthy development despite the fact that the government had tried to persuade it to shelve the action.

His words: “I must say here that we need to commend them because, for the first time, the Labour movement has decided not to go on strike right away. They have decided to hold a rally to make their point and to protest to the government.

“I think it is a very healthy development in the sense that on previous occasions, you will recall that the most predictable action by Labour was a strike. Sometimes they called it the mother of all strikes, ultimatum, intimidation and all what not. At least one is happy that the gospel of dialogue one has been preaching is paying dividends and we believe that we will all come to understand and appreciate each other’s point of view.

“The government has taken some steps and is still taking some steps to ensure some palliatives. Labour tried to argue that the Mantu committee report has not been implemented and we tried to show that it has been implemented.

“However, in our own discussion with them, new ideas have emerged. Labour has made new proposals, which we have discussed and will be carried to the government. They are also going back to make consultations with their own people and we believe there will be an amicable solution to this problem”.

Asked if the government would therefore follow the example of Ghana, Britain, Germany that are considering lowering the price of fuel price  cushion its effect on their citizens, Lawal replied: “This is the fundamental error we always make. Please compare apple with apple. Don’t compare an apple with an orange. The quantum of money we saved from some of these increases is not money meant for anybody to go on a Christmas spree.

“This is money meant for the provision of basic infrastructure. You are now talking of European countries. For God’s sake, is water or borehole an issue in England or Italy or France? Is electricity an issue in Germany or England? The issue is that we are a developing society”.

Negro_Ntns:

SS has shown its immaturity at leading the country or keeping a steady head to demonstrate neutrality. It is lessons learnt, next time they produce their son or daughter for Presidency we know to use Gej regime as a yardstick of measure and reject candidates from SS. T[b]he igbos are living testimony of that. They s c r e wed their chances and its been over 40yrs now since they had a son in that seat.[/b] If you dont temper your responses and threats, GEJ could very well be your last taste on the seat for another 100yrs, assuming nIGERIA last that long into the future.

Chyz*:

This is an issue between Yorubas and ijaws, leave igbos out of it.