..Says APC Lacks Human Sympathy
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has rejected the announced increase
in fuel price from N123 to N143.80 per liter by the All Progressives
Congress (APC) administration, describing it as a punishment to
Nigerians given the prevailing economic hardship foisted on the country
by the administration.
According to a statement signed by Kola Ologbondiyan, “The party
described the hike, despite the declining price of crude oil in the
international market, as grossly unjustifiable and further exposes the
insincerity of the APC and its administration.
“The PDP notes that in directing a fuel price increase at the time
Nigerians are facing the economic and social trauma of the COVID-19
pandemic, the President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC administration shows a
total lack of human feelings to the plights of our citizens.
“Our party challenges the APC-led Federal Government to present to
Nigerians, the indices and parameters it used to determine the price
increase, which obviously cannot be in tandem with the prevalent
situation in the global industry.
“The actions of the APC administration have continued to confirm that
the party has never been pro-poor but only relishes in imposing hardship
and heavy taxes on already impoverished Nigerians while running an
over-bloated government through which resources meant for the welfare of
Nigerians are frittered by corrupt officials and the cabal in the
Presidency.
“Under the APC, Nigerians have been subjected to untold hardship, which
is worsened by excruciating taxes, including a 7.5 percent Value Added
Tax (VAT) on essential commodities and services, increased electricity
tariff, obnoxious Stamp Duty and other levies on bank transactions.
“It is shocking that the APC government has continued to impose
more burdens that have made life unbearable to our citizens, many of
whom have lost their means of livelihood due to the misrule of the APC.
“Only yesterday, President Buhari told the world that the number of poor
people will triple following the adverse impact of COVID-19 pandemic;
yet his administration, which has turned our nation into the poverty
capital of the world, instead of seeking ways to stimulate the economy,
is worsening the situation with an increase in fuel price.
“What Nigerians expect of the Buhari Presidency at this critical time is
to save resources by immediately cutting the size of its over-bloated
government, recover the over N14 trillion oil money stolen under its
watch and channel the funds towards the wellbeing of Nigerians.
“Our party, therefore, charges the APC and its administration to
immediately reverse the pump price of fuel to a price not exceeding N90
per liter, given the prevailing templates in the price of crude oil in
the international market.”