With the rumour of a possible increase in pump price of petrol getting
stronger by the day, the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) on
Monday warned of the imminent consequences of any such plan at a time an
average Nigerian citizen can hardly afford one good meal a day.
The Conference, which is the umbrella body of all registered political
parties and political associations in the country, also counseled the
citizens never to put their hope Labour unions in Nigeria for any reversal
of a hike in pump price if the federal government eventually dances to the
tune of the rumour mongers.
In a statement signed by its Secretary General, Chief Willy Ezugwu, the
CNPP maintained that since 2012, it became obvious that the Nigerian
Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), and their allied unions
have not proven to be selfless partners with the poor masses in times of
need and cannot be trusted at this time or even in the future.
According to the CNPP, “The only hope for the ordinary citizen in the
country at a time like this is the CNPP and its coalition of civil society
groups.
“Since the rumour of fuel price hike began to make the rounds, observable
body language of some government officials as well as their statements
point to the fact that the increment is sure to come if the ordinary
people did not resist the plan.
“More so, former and present bosses of the Nigerian National Petroleum
Corporation (NNPC) have at one time or the other in recent times
maintained that the price of fuel might have to be increased from the
current rate of N145 per litre due to the rising exchange rate.
“The CNPP is currently mobilizing leaders of the civil society groups for
a mother-of-all resistance if the federal government dares to increase the
pump price of petrol at any time.
“Nigerians should not be taken unawares at this time. Those who are
conversant with the antics of the current administration know that any
time such rumour and the attendant denials by the federal government
begin, the time for the increment is nearer than imagined.
“But if President Muhammadu Buhari believes that he still has the goodwill
that enabled him increase the pump price of fuel from N85.50 to N145, the
administration must be joking.
“The Nigerian masses allowed the last fuel price hike because they never
wanted the Buhari regime to have any excuse for failure. But today, it has
become more obvious that the government has remained on the
trial-and-error mode for 18months in office.
“Therefore, we join well meaning Nigerians and the masses of this country
to say no to another fuel price hike. The CNPP is set to lead the struggle
at this time and the resistance shall be total”, the Conference vowed.