A non-governmental organization (NGO) in Rivers State known as Change Nigeria with Mr. Wabiye Idoniboyeobu as president has condemned the fuel subsidy removal at the time it was removed, calling it “a good venture at the wrong time”.
The condemnation was handed down by the press consultant of the NGO shortly after the protesters of the Nigerians Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress, (TUC) protested to Government House in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, January 9, 2012.
According to the spokeman, subsidy should have been removed when the government has successfully put light (Electricity) water, roads, education and health in place, adding that if these things are working well in the country people will not feel the subsidy removal.
Change Nigeria which has Tonye Princewill as patron, lauded the reduction of fuel price in the state by the Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, but added that the people wanted greater things than that.
The spokesman, Mr. Valentine Owho, has it that things like transport system needed to come down very well for people to live comfortably and that there is need for everything to work in Rivers state.
In a similar vein, the people of Obio/Akpor in a town Hall meeting at the council secretariat pledged support for Mr. President over fuel subsidy removal and advised that people should try to endure the present hardship that followed the exercise because it will not last.
In a nine-point communiqué released at the end of their meeting signed by the LGA chairman, Hon. Timothy Nsirim among others, assured Nigerians that the money from the subsidy removal will enhance development for the greater living standard of the people.
The resolution called for caution, demanding the Nigerian Labour Congress, (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), Civil Society and Non-Governmental Organization (NGO’s) who are into the strike action to withdraw and allow dialogue to prevail.
They condemned the terrorists activities in the Northern part of the country and pressed that the bombing and killing by a religious sect should be stopped in the name of one Nigeria.
Speaking to this weekly, an elder citizen of the LGA, senator Noble W. Chukwumati said the Senate and Federal House of Representatives and the protesting groups should go and dialogue with the president adding that what the Obio/Akpor has done was to take position to support the fuel subsidy removal by president Goodluck Jonathan.
Noble who confessed the marginalization of the Niger Delta people in Nigeria, said though Mr. President should have started shaping things from that angle, he may later look into the land use act law for the liberation of the Niger Delta people. ###
Mene Gbarabe
