…Rejects N1,500 per liter as punishing
Following his attempt to justify the excessive cost of fuel in the country under the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led All Progressives Congress (APC) administration, the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), has demanded the immediate resignation from office of Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State.
This was as the APM strongly condemned what it described as the “punishing increase” in the pump price of fuel to over N1,500 per liter at a time Nigerians are eagerly expecting a reduction.
The APM in a statement by Abubakar Yusuf, National Publicity Secretary, also described the unhindered increase in the price of petroleum as a brutal assault on the citizens by the Tinubu administration.
It particularly said that the petrol price increase at this time is a huge recipe for crisis as Nigerians are already overburdened and can no longer bear its suffocating effect on their lives
The statement stated; “It is therefore reckless and irresponsible of Governor Okpebholo to state that Nigerians should not complain about the N1,500 per liter cost of fuel in the country because it is cheaper than an average N3000 per liter cost in the United Kingdom, without taking into consideration the per capita income and purchasing power of an average Nigerian in comparison to that of a British citizen.
“It is to say the least callous for a state governor to attempt to benchmark petrol price in Nigeria with that of the UK where the purchasing power of an average wage earner is over £2,636 (N4.6 million) monthly compared to the paltry N70,000 monthly minimum wage earned by their peers in Nigeria.
“For clarity, while an average school teacher in Nigeria earns N70,000 or less, his counterpart in the UK takes a monthly starting salary of about £2,839 (N4.9 million).
“Also, while an average Nigerian wage earner is subjected to an informal, chaotic, heavily and expensive public transportation, the public transport system in the United Kingdom is structured, highly regulated, and heavily subsidized by the British government for the benefit of citizens,”.
The APM noted that what Governor Okpebholo failed to tell Nigerians is the fact that in other oil producing countries such as Libya and even Iran, which is presently at war, petrol is sold at an average of equivalent of N41 to N52 per liter.
The party therefore said that it was therefore completely irrational and highly provocative for Governor Okpebholo of the APC to attempt to compare the situation in the UK to that of Nigeria.
The APM further said; “Such comment from a governor is capable of triggering a widespread protest and breakdown of law and order across the country.
“This is especially coming against the backdrop of public apprehension that the comment by the Edo State governor could be a test ground of the APC administration to justify a further increase in the pump price of petrol as part of the APC’s plot to inflict more hardship on Nigerians,” it stated.
The APM nevertheless, urged Nigerians not to despair as the 2027 Presidential election affords the nation the golden opportunity to vote in a humane, transparent, people-based and efficient leadership as embodied in its Presidential Candidate, Engr. Seyi Makinde.
It assured that under a Makinde/Daura Presidency and its Reset Agenda, the interest and wellbeing of all Nigerians will be the top priority of government.
The APM stressed that Nigerians do not deserve this level of intolerable suffering that the APC-led administration has subjected them to given the enormous resources at the disposal of the government.
The statement therefore urged Nigerians to remain steadfast as they rally to forge a new beginning for the nation on the platform of the APM.
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