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Fuel price: Afenifere, TUC, others back strike
Backing the Afenifere are the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and more than 50 other pro-democracy groups.
In separate statements at the weekend, the groups, which include the United Action for Democracy (UAD), a coalition of 50 pro-democracy organisations, the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO), the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) and Campaign for Democracy (CD) said the alternative to strike was grim.
The UAD and NANS urged Nigerians to begin an indefinite strike this morning.
In its statement entitled: "Fuel price hike: Resist or surrender to death," the Afenifere encouraged the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the NLC to declare a nation-wide strike immediately.
"They are rest assured that the suffering millions of Nigerians are solidly behind them. It is the people's battle and not that of Labour alone," said Afenifere, which questioned the government's inability to repair the refineries.
Signed by Mr. Yinka Odumakin, its National Administration Secretary, the statement urged "the ordinary people that are being made to bear the brunt of irresponsible governance" to resist it because the plan is to take fuel to N70 per litre before the end of the year.
The Afenifere recalled its warning that the zeal with which the Presidency and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) pursued the Labour Bill at the National Assembly was meant to destroy the NLC "so that no one would be able to rally Nigerians to resist oppressive policies of the regime."
It asked President Olusegun Obasanjo to disclose those who got the $800 million to repair the non-functioning refineries in the country. According to the group, no responsible government will gleefully announce that it had spent $800 million to repair the nation's refineries in five years while none is working and no one is in jail.
"Which responsible government in the world would say that it is increasing fuel prices to check smuggling across borders and yet spend the largest chunk of its budget on defence? Which responsible government in the world would preside over the six largest producers of crude oil in the world and would depend on imported refined fuel at a price it cannot control for its domestic consumption just as it cannot determine the price of its crude?" the Afenifere queried.
On its part, the CD in a statement by Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin described the increase as "a callous independence anniversary gift to Nigerians and called on the citizenry to embark on a "total strike" to force the regime to revert to the old prices.
"We see the action as wicked, insensitive and a clear demonstration of deep contempt for the plight of Nigerians, majority of who are presently at the lowest ebb. It is a shame to our civilian rulers that in less than five years after the demise of the rapacious and tyrannical Gen. Sani Abacha, Nigerians now openly wish that era were back as far as the fuel regime is concerned. And it is understandable because from N11 per litre when Abacha died, Obasanjo has now taken it to between N53 and N60 per litre," it said.
Rising from an emergency NEC meeting at the weekend in Lagos, the TUC, a sister body of the NLC, described the fuel hike as arbitrary and hasty without due process, "as the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) did not meet to deliberate on the increase."
In a statement by Mr. G. T. Babalola (second Deputy President) and Chief John Kolawole (Secretary), the Congress called on the Federal Government to revert to the old prices.
Mandating its Central Working Committee (CWC) to strategise and execute its position on the issue, the TUC said it would join forces with well-meaning Nigerians to resist the increase.
Affirming that the distribution and supply of petroleum products should not be left to oil marketers alone, the Congress said that the government's intervention was needed to halt frequent fuel price increases.
The TUC urged an immediate meeting of stakeholders because the increase was "a threat to the prevailing peace and stability in our nascent democracy."
It wants the stakeholders meeting to address the following questions:
For the CLO, the fuel price increase was a "conscious orchestrated imperial plan of the Obasanjo government to muffle all voices of opposition and impose unimaginable suffering on the Nigerian people."
Rejecting the increase, Mr. Chima Ubani (Executive Director), called on the government to rescind the policy. He urged the citizenry to resist "this latest assault on their survival and the stability of our democracy."
Rising from a meeting in Ikeja, the UAD said with the latest increment, the fifth since the he came to power in 1999, "the game is up for Obasanjo."
In a country where the government admits that 79 per cent of the people live below poverty line, the coalition said the increment showed that the programme of the government for the people was that of "perpetual suffering, intolerable poverty and crisis."
As a way out, the UAD called for the immediate reversal of fuel price to N42 per litre, resignation of President Obasanjo, convocation of a Sovereign National Conference (SNC) and formation of a provisional government to oversee the affairs of the country during the conference.
It urged all Nigerians to assemble as from this morning in their various neighbourhoods and localities to organise rallies and protest".
A faction of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) led by the former Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Lt. Gen. Jerry Useni (rtd) at the weekend joined in condemning the recent increases.
In a statement yesterday in Abuja, ANPP Acting National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Ismaila Sani, berated the PDP-led government for its "usual cavalier and spontaneous style of resorting to increasing pump prices of petroleum products at any slight opportunity.
"To say the least, the action lacks rhyme and reason, and it is accordingly unwarranted and unreasonable hence stands condemned by well-meaning Nigerians.
"The action is a further confirmation that those who usurp power at the centre are neither bothered about, nor interested in the welfare and well-being of the ordinary citizens."
According to the statement: "The so-called deregulation is gradually and openly becoming an instrument of under-development - an agenda to permanently diminish the country's potentials and capacity to be economically independent.
The presidential candidate of the National Conscience Party (NCP), Chief Gani Fawehinmi (SAN), at the weekend called on his party members to join hands with Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, the NLC President and himself to fight against injustice in the country, especially last week's increase in fuel price.
Fawehinmi made the statement during the National Congress of the NCP at the Airport Hotel Ikeja, Lagos.
His words: "Our party (NCP) is that of sacrifice. Individual sacrifice. Let us follow Oshiomhole to lead. I will follow in the strike.
"If they (government) like, they can take their Senior Advocate of Nigeria. So, let the National Conscience Party members be ready. Please link with them (NLC), march with them, rub shoulders with them."
According to him, section (1) and (2) of the constitution say that "you can only govern this country by the constitution of Nigeria", adding that when the constitution of Nigeria says in chapter 14 that the primary purpose of governance is security and welfare and you ignore the welfare of the people, you have disobeyed the constitution, you are flouting it."
The human rights activist stressed further: "We (Nigerians) must hold the country in our hands and say, Mr. President, you have dented the reputation of this country, you must go. And if you don't, we boot you out."
He said his primary duty is to march with the people and be prepared to go to any cell to that effect.
"Men don't die twice but once. I must drop my life for this country. Let the government be ready with the most obnoxious gas, I am prepared to die with dignity. The Yoruba should now hold their heads in shame because, when we told them in 1999, they (Yoruba) said it is our turn."
In the same vein, Mr. Femi Falana, the NLC lawyer, said he did not believe that the NLC had been decentralised.
Said he: "There are 29 industrial unions affiliated to NLC. What the Federal High Court attempted to do was to remove Adams Oshiomhole as President of NLC. But that can only be done democratically."
In a three-paragraph statement by Ayoola Adekunle, NANS said that the increment of fuel price from N43 to between N52 and N60 was a calculated attempt to send teeming Nigerians to their early graves.
Lamenting that the increase would have multiple effect on all facets of the country's economy and social well-being, the students wondered what had become of Nigeria's oil wealth.
"When the price of oil internationally is currently in favour of our dear nation, the government prefers to suffer Nigerians. Why? This recent criminal increases of fuel pump price are not in the interest of the common man. All hands must be on deck to resist this satanic and unjust increment," they said.
Also NANS' Oyo State chapter, yesterday in a separate statement, opposed the fuel price increase and vowed to mobilise its members in protest against the development.
NANS, in a statement made available to reporters in Ibadan and signed by the chairman, Kilani Akinkunmi and Secretary, Agboola Olabisi, described the increase as "uncalled for", saying it would further increase the burden of the Nigerian masses while also adding to the poverty level of the already impoverished Nigerians.
Describing the President Obasanjo-led administration as insensitive, the students noted that the incessant increments show that the present government had nothing to offer Nigerians.
However, the Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources has thrown its weight behind the increase and called for greater tolerance for the economic policies of this administration.
This was disclosed to journalists at the weekend in Abuja at a press conference.
Led by its chairman, Emmanuel Agboti and his deputy, A. Ajimobi, the committee declared that last week's increase in petroleum product prices by oil marketers would complete the deregulation of the downstream sector of the petroleum industry.
"Everybody desires full deregulation. So, this action helps in actualising this full deregulation, which we all know has more advantages than disadvantages," said Agboti.
He advised that Nigerians should give this administration time to deliver the dividends of democracy by being more patient, adding that this was the only way life could be made more meaningful to all.
The chairman explained: "We must re-adjust our attitude to government policies. We must learn to believe in transparency and efficiency, which are the hallmark of this administration's economic policies especially the deregulation policy."
Meanwhile, a Senator has described the recent fuel price increase as another attempt to further impoverish Nigerians.
Senator Farouk Bello (ANPP, Kebbi) told The Guardian in an interview that the Trade Union Act Amendment Bill and the recent court ruling against Labour were all attempts calculated at removing perceived obstacles on the ways of government towards inflicting more harm on the people through the fuel price increase.
As the NLC meets today over last week's review of prices of petroleum products, the Federal Attorney-General (AG) and Minister of Justice, Chief Akinlolu Olujinmi (SAN), at the weekend advised that the judgment of the trial court be respected.
Cautioning against any strike, the AG advised the Labour union to have faith in the judiciary and await the outcome of the appeal it (NLC) has filed.
He denied knowledge of any increase of pump prices of petroleum products but stated that judgment of the court of law no matter how it is perceived, ought to be respected.
Olujinmi stated that criticisms of the judgment by the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court was reprehensible. He said it does not tell good of how democratic we are as a nation if we keep criticising judgments of courts considered unfavourable to any particular party.
The minister who spoke with The Guardian said: "The question of whether the issue of the constitutional validity of the presidency of the NLC was canvassed in the substantive suit or not does not arise. I believe very firmly the processes filed in court touched on that question. Judges don't wander like a night errand, they are usually guide by the issues canvassed by the parties before them. You are saying the Federal Government did not raise the issue of the constitutional validity of the NLC President. I can also say the judgment you are talking about did not so to say decide on that."
He added: "From my reading of Justice Roseline Ukeje's judgment, what I gathered is that the office of the NLC President is not an institution, contrary to the submission of the counsel to the Labour congress. It is quite different.
"There is nothing to show that statutorily, the office of the NLC President is an institution."
"If during the argument, of course that submission was addressed to the lordship, it is an invitation to make a pronouncement on it."
Olujinmi denied knowledge of the allegation that government flew back Ukeje from Europe on the night it (Federal Government) filed the suit.
His word: "I don't know about flying Ukeje back from Europe. What I know is that after the counsel addressed the matter, a date was fixed for judgment. It was not even ready on that date and it had to be postponed. When people go to court, you don't expect to win always, if you lose accept it in good faith.`
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