FG intimidating Nigerians with fuel scarcity, Group alleges

By Temitope Adedeji, Akure

Campaign for Democracy, a human rights organisation, has called on the Federal Government to ensure that the sudden fuel scarcity that hits the country is not a device or stratagy to increase the pump price of the product. 

The group, in a statement signed by its Secretary, Revd. Ifeanyi Dili in Akure, the Ondo State capital, said it is becoming obvious that government wants to intimidate and frustrate Nigerians to accept whatever it will pronounce as the price of fuel.

The statement said: “We noted that the fuel scarcity coincides with the Federal Government’s plan to increase pump prices which was aborted recently by public outcry.

“We believe that the reason for the artificial fuel scarcity is one of the Federal Government’s schemes to achieve what they could not achieve recently.” 

The group also lampooned the Federal Government for its failure to prosecute those responsible for the importation of bad fuel into the country, which has been blamed for the current scarcity.

The group frowned at President Muhammadu Buhari, who also holds the portfolio of petroleum minister for abandoning his primary responsibilities in the country by travelling abroad for medical attention even in the face of acute fuel scarcity.

“It is sad that after 61 years of our independence, and with all the change mantra of the ruling APC, PMB still travels abroad on health issues. 

“This is a manifestation of a nation in deep mess. And that if we are not careful, Nigeria will become irredeemable.

“Nigerians have been taken for a ride for too long, ridiculed, insulted, dealt with fatal blows by our wicked leaders over the situation of things in the country. Nigeria’s ship is coasting towards doom in the hands of our leaders,” it said.

The group vowed to resist any attempt by the Federal Government to increase the pump price of fuel through any guise.