ACN Taunts PDP-Led FG Over Successful Labour Strike

The Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, has said that the massive turn-out of protesting Nigerians against the removal of fuel subsidy by the Goodluck Jonathan administration is a clear indication of the people’s discontent and disenchantment with the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

The spokesman of the Rivers State chapter of ACN, Jerry Needam, stated this shortly after monitoring the protests in Port Harcourt and other parts of the state.

Needam, who was at the Isaac Boro Park Flyover, Port Harcourt by 7a.m. to monitor the protest against the removal of the fuel subsidy expressed satisfaction with the large turn-out and peaceful demonstration on all major roads and streets in Port Harcourt.

The ACN spokesman regrets that despite the total rejection of the subsidy removal, the PDP-led government has remained insensitive, deaf and recalcitrant to the cries of the people, suggestive of the obvious fact that its government is one of a selected few who do not care about others.

The ACN argued further that there is no truth in the Federal Government’s proposal of embarking on the controversial economic policy in the interest of the people, describing the removal of the fuel subsidy as a policy of starvation and genocide targeted at the poor.

Needam also described the belated mass transit and other palliative measures being put in place by the Federal Government as a mere after-thought by confused self-seeking leaders.

He also wondered what manner of leadership President Jonathan is showcasing when he cannot be moved by the hardship Nigerians are facing.

The ACN commended the civil society groups and the organised labour for rising up to the challenges posed by those it described as sworn enemies of the people.

“Rather than confronting head-on the problem of insecurity in the country occasioned by Boko Haram, President Jonathan prefers to shield his weakness under the canopy of fuel subsidy removal that has brought even a greater insecurity challenge,” the ACN said.

While reminding President Jonathan of the need to prevent further loss of lives and hardship by reverting to the old pump price of N65 per litre, the party urged the Rivers people and Nigerians not to engage in anything that would worsen the already bad condition of the common people and to go about the protests peacefully to achieve the desired result.

—Okafor Ofiebor/Portharcourt