Edo State Civil Society Organisations (EDOCSO) and other civil rights groups in the state on Monday protested in Benin City, the state capital, against hardship allegedly brought upon Nigerians following the removal of fuel subsidy by President Bola Tinubu.
In his inaugural address on 29th May, President Tinubu announced the end of fuel subsidy on the ground that the country could no longer sustain it.
The various groups took their rallies through the major streets in Benin metropolis including Mission Road, Akpakpava Road and Ring Road.
The protesters brandished placards that read, ‘In less than two months, Tinubu Government is choking Nigerians to death, Tinubu let us breathe‘, ‘Kill corruption not Nigerians‘, ‘Cost of living in Nigeria is choking us‘, ‘FG allow the poor to breath‘ and ‘Keep your palliatives, fix our refineries‘.
EDOCSO interim president, Comrade Austin Enabulele told newsmen in Benin City that, while the group appreciated the removal of the petroleum subsidy by the Federal Government, the administration should have put modality in place to cushion the pains that the removal will have on the poor masses
“We appreciate that he has removed subsidy because they are using it to steal from us but then, before you do that, you must put palliative in place, you must ensure that the refineries are working even if it is two, they should be working so that they can be able to buy fuel in an affordable price in Nigeria”, Enabulele said.
He queried the rationale behind the N8,000 proposed palliative for 12 million Nigerians, which would amount to N996 billion, while N70 billion would be spent on 469 National Assembly members.
“And we have come to tell him that we don’t need the N8,000 palliatives. He should keep it to himself. It is another way of stealing Nigerians’ money.
“How do you get the statistics of 12 million Nigerians that you want to pay N996 billion to as palliatives? Meanwhile, you want to spend N70 billion for the National House of Assembly which are just 469 members.
“Is that not stealing? Is that not calling Nigerians fools? We want to let President Bola Tinubu know that we are not fools and that enough is enough”, Enabulele further said.
President of Talakawa’s Parliament, Comrade Kola Edokpayi said: “It is no longer news that the poverty rate has increased under the watch of our president.
“It is sad we are where we are today. We cannot continue like this. Imagine lawmakers proposed N70bn palliative when the masses are suffering”.
Source: Nigerian Tribune
