…Counsel Buhari on What to Do About Pre-paid Metering of Electricity Consumers

By Olalekan Balogun

As the labour unions in Nigeria continue to insist on reversal of the recent increment on patrol pump price in the country, citizens on Monday rose to defend the fuel subsidy removal by the federal government (FG), insisting that those instigating the ordinary citizens against the policy are beneficiaries of the age-long subsidy scam in the country.

The Street Reporters Newspaper reports that the citizens at a rally in Abuja under the aegis of National Patriotic Movement, noted that the subsidy money had always ended in the pockets of corrupt Nigerians.

According the Convener of the movement, Comrade Okpokwu Ogenyi, who addressed journalists at the Unity Fountain, Maitama, in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the painful aspect the fuel subsidy removal challenge is that subsidy funds “end up in the pocket of few corrupt Nigerians.”

He insisting that subsidy is a scam, the citizens said they agree with President Muhammadu Buhari that fuel subsidy removal is the way to go to End the scam.

On pre-paid metering of Nigerians, the movement urged the government to prevail on the country’s electricity distribution companies to distribute free prepaid meters to Nigerians.

Find below the full text of the speech as read by Comrade Okpokwu Ogenyi on the Fuel Subsidy Removal, Electricity Consumers’ Metering:

Being A Text Of Speech Delivered By The National Coordinator, Coalition For Good Governance And Change Initiative, The Chief Convener Of The National Patriotic Movement At The National Patriotism Rally In Support Of Fuel Subsidy Removal And The Implementation Of The Service-Based Principle Tariff Of Electricity Distribution COMPANY Of Nigeria, Monday, 21st September, 2020, At The Unity Fountain, Maitama, Abuja.

It is with great sense of commitment, we are gathered here today to as patriotic Nigerians who believe in the unity of our Country with the view that, the only way forward for our Nation is unreserved patriotism to the Country, Nigeria.

For the past sixty years of existence as a Nation, Nigeria is bedeviled with corruption, insecurity, natural disasters like flood, poor power supply and lack of patriotic leaders who are ready to make necessary decisions to take Nigeria to the next level.

In view of the aforementioned, we the people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria have come to appreciate President Muhammadu Buhari, on his commitment to the Nation and sincerity of purpose in governance.

We have decided to make sacrifice for the betterment of our future, the future of our children and generations yet unborn, by Supporting the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to fully deregulate the downstream sector of the oil industry otherwise known as fuel subsidy Removal.

As Great Nigerians, we have resolved not to be ungrateful, not be used as agents of destabilisation by the anti-people forces, like the generator importers and oil marketers, sponsoring campaign against the Federal Government over genuine policies of government aimed at aliemeroting the long sufferings of Nigerians by putting to an end, fuel subsidy corruption and unstable power supply in the Country.

We wish to send a strong advise to the organised labour, the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress to publicly commend the President Muhammadu Buhari led administration for daring the subsidy cabal in removing fuel subsidy and the implementation of the service based principle tariff of electricity distribution company, in order to exonerate itself from being beneficiaries of the pervasive corruption that has crippled Nigeria’s economy over the years.

The NLC, TUC, and their cohort must prove to Nigerians that, the increment of about thirteen naira (₦13) per litre as a result of the deregulation of the downstream sector of the oil industry is against the poor masses.

It is not against the poor but the rich, so, the rich were coming secretly to incite the poor against the Federal Government. We are better informed now than before, it will not work again, we are not ready to destroy our future with our own hands.

As Nigerians, we all crave for stable power supply to boost industrialisation which in turn shall provide massive job creation. We make bold to say that, NLC ,TUC and other well placed Nigerians, should stop bullying the Federal Government over a genuine policy, those criticizing the government over subsidy Removal are not doing so in the interest of we the people but for their personal benefit.

Why should Labour Union threatens strike? We do not send anyone to strike non protest on our behalf, the Government is implementing policies for the betterment of our future. We all know, that things are hard at the moment but will soon be soften, there is a price tag on every achievement and we are ready to pay the price.

These policies are not against Nigerians but against the thieves, stealing from our National Treasury in the name of oil subsidy and unrealistic power project since 1999.

It is worthy of note that, the Buhari-led administration has not only won the heart of ordinary Nigerians but has rejuvenated the consciousness of patriotism among us, that why someone could say, suffering and smiling, yes we are, definitely, we shall over for the successes of tomorrow.

It is of global knowledge that, the Buhari’s administration inherited terrorism, insurgency, banditry, kidnapping and natural disasters especially flooding from the successive administration’s.

There is no double that, we have made advance progress on the aforementioned areas. Gradually, and steadily, we shall overcome all challenges as a Nation.

The global oil demand had continue to decline even before the Covid-19, which is rampaging the World economy. It has worsen with almost total decline on the global demand of oil, which Nigeria economy demands for survival. President Buhari could not do much as the COVID-19 pandemic is a global threat to human existence and the World Economy.

We urge all well meaning Nigerians to continue to support Mr. President especially at this critical era of Covid-19. All we need at this moment is patience and patriotism, investing in the future .

Remember, when President Muhammadu Buhari took over power in 2015, the Nation’s economy was under recession with high inflation rate. Today, we have not only bounced back but has overtaken South African economy as the biggest economy in Africa.

In the area of food security, we have made tremendous progress in food production. If not for the government policy on agriculture, Nigeria would have been in trouble during the COVID-19 dockdown.

The ban on importation of rice and frozen foods has not only given birth to indigenous farmers but has provided organic, healthy rice and birds for our consumption. We appreciate God for His loving kindness, we thank President Muhammadu Buhari for his steadfastness.

It could be recalled that the immediate past Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, His Royal Highness, Malam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi had warn the previous administration on the impeding danger, if fuel subsidy was not removed.

He emphasized that, the then Federal Government could continue to pay fuel subsidy till 2015 and it will not come down, but the next Government which is the Buhari’s administration will be saddled with a debts burden which it can not maintain.

He insisted that there is no difference between removing subsidy and not removing it in the economy.

“Show me the cost of removing subsidy and I will show the cost of not removing it”. Sanusi maintained that, government was paying ₦1.4 trillion which was one third (1/3) of the entire government expenditure as oil subsidy.

The pain is, it end up in the pocket of few corrupt Nigerians. We agree with him completely that subsidy is a scam and must be stopped.

We make bold to demand of the Federal Government to prevail on the distribution companies, to meter every household at no cost to Nigerians.

The burden of paying for meter should not be on the consumers as it is, the property of the distribution company. This we believe will encourage Nigerians to save energy as individual regulation will naturally be applied.

More worrisome is the recent global terrorism index, ranking Nigeria as the third most terrorised Country in the World, this is a serious concern to all Nigerians as the war against terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and insurgency must be won.

Mr. President, we are aware that, the war against terrorism is ongoing, it must be stepped up if we must rid our Country of terrorism. It is a public knowledge that, if things are not done fast, Nigeria may overtake Afghanistan and Iraq in the global index of terrorism.

We know, much is being achieved, we need more commitment and demonstration of capacity in defeating terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and general insurrection.

We believe Mr. President has the capacity to safeguard lives and property of Nigerians and the time is now.

Long live Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Comrade Okpokwu Ogenyi,

Convener,

National Patriotic Movement.