Resist Fuel Subsidy Removal —Falana

Human rights activist and Lagos-based lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana, has called on Nigerians to resist the planned removal of fuel subsidy by the Federal Government.

Falana, who described the removal of fuel subsidy as a ploy to do the bidding of the imperialists, said the result would make life unbearable for Nigerians. He stated this in a release sent to P.M.NEWS.

According to him, “without considering the deleterious impact of the neo-colonial agenda on Nigerian people, the Federal Government has concluded plans to do the bidding of imperialists.”

Falana said instead of removing the fuel subsidy, the Federal Government should rather prohibit unwholesome importation of goods which are produced in the country. He stated that the importation of such goods has ruined the manufacturing sector and drained the country’s foreign reserves.

He said: “At a time that three ex-governors are being accused of looting the public treasury to the tune of N100 billion, the Governors Forum has decided to provoke Nigerians by endorsing the removal of fuel subsidy without announcing a cut in the prodigal lifestyles of its members. The president, vice president, state governors, who have collectively voted for the removal of fuel subsidy, should commence the sacrifice by stopping the collection of the illegal security votes which runs into several billions of naira.”

Falana also advised the Federal Government to stop taking the nation’s crude oil to Europe to refine but instead patronise any neighbouring country that has a refinery. He added that government should stop the importers of subsidised fuel from diverting it to neighbouring countries where it is sold at a high price.

He tasked the Nigerian Labour Congress, the Trade Union Congress and all progressive forces in the country to reject the removal of fuel subsidy.

“Since it is crystal clear that President Goodluck Jonathan ‘s administration has entered into an unholy pact with imperialism and its local lackeys to make life unbearable for Nigerians, the Nigerian Labour Congress, the Trade Union Congress and all progressive forces in the country should mobilise Nigerians to reject the colonisation of the country through currency devaluation and fuel subsidy removal.

“It is time to say enough is enough,” Falana charged Nigerians.

—Paul Sanusi