Mixed Reactions Trail Fuel Price Hike
From Omon-Julius Onabu in Benin-City, Segun Awofadeju in Bauchi, Tunde Sanni in Ilorin and Oghenekevwe Laba in Lagos
Students of the University of Benin (UNIBEN), yesterday led others on a peaceful march through the Edo State capital, Benin-City, to register their displeasure and opposition to hike in the prices of petroleum products by the Federal Government.
The students vowed to join their colleagues and compatriots nationwide to ensure that none of the activities lined up by government to mark the country's 44th independence anniversary do not take place and advised that the celebrations be cancelled.
Numbering several thousands and chanting war songs, they marched through the city's central busisness district (Ring Road) and other strategic parts of the metropolis, visited the Edo State House of Assembly and were later addressed by Deputy Governor, Chief Mike Oghiadomhe, at the Government House.
The demonstration was generally peaceful with about three thousand strong police personnel on guard at the Government House not firing a single gunshot or tear gas cannister, throughout the three hours the protesters spent at the front gate.
Meanwhile, Bauchi State Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), has called on Nigerians to resist the new fuel price hike and enjoined them to warm up for a showdown with government on the matter.
Also, the State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) said it would collaborate with other civil society groups and Nigerian workers to protest the new hike.
The NLC, Bauchi State Council condemned the hike, saying fuel price deregulation by the Federal Government was an anti-people policy, meant to further bring more hardship to the Nigerian masses.
State Chairman of the Union, Comrade Ibrahim Ilyasu Zwal, in the press statement made available to THISDAY called on all Nigerians to gird their loins and be ready for the battle ahead because, "the Federal Government cannot convince Nigerians that its various policies were put in place for the interest of the people, by adding to our hardship through hike in the prices of petroleum products".
Zwal pointed out that NLC and Nigerians received the news of the price hike with shock, saying the Union was already worried by the rising cost of production which is caused basically by high cost of petroleum products.
He said they were waiting for directives from the National Secretariat of the Union on the next move, and called on Nigerians to fight for their rights "and free ourselves from the bondage of the Obasanjo-led administration".
In his reaction, President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Chief Bayo Ojo (SAN), said NBA is still studying the situation of the new price regime and pleaded for time to enable the association come out with a position.
Cornered by newsmen shortly after attending the 2004/2005 legal year of the Kwara State Judiciary, the NBA President said he can only comment on the new fuel price after the association's executive committee meeting.
"I can not say anything now until I have met with my colleagues on the executive council."
His comment almost tallied with the local NBA chairman's, Wahab Egbewole, who advised Labour against its planned nationwide strike, remarking that "since strike has become another tool of protest by the labour against increase in petroleum prices, nothing good has ever come out of it."
He advised the NLC to explore another option of making government have a rethink on the fuel price.
Also Yoruba Revolutionary Movement (YOREM), and National Union of Journalists (NUJ), have condemned the hike and enjoined Nigerians to form a united force in protest against the increase which they described as obnoxious.
A statement signed by the General Secretary of YOREM, Olawale Salami, enjoined Nigerians to vehemently resist not just the hike in petroleum products, but equally organise and mobilise to kick the regime out of power, so as to put an end to their sufferings.
Salami said for as long as the Obasanjo regime remains in power, it will continue to perpetuate the dictates of International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank, Paris Club and other Brentton Wood Institutions.
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