SNG, allies condemn deployment of troops, reject N97 pump price

 The Save Nigeria Group (SNG) and its allies have condemned the deployment of troops and tanks to the Gani Fawehimi Fredom Square at Ojota, Lagos.

The SNG and its allies also rejected the N97 per litre offer of the Federal Government.

In a statement signed by the Convener of the SNG, Pastor Tunde Bakare, the group said the move was not called for because the protest had been peaceful.

Bakare added in the statement: “To the credit of the organizers of the protests and the maturity of the millions of Nigeria who have trooped to the rally ground, we have had violence free gatherings for days with great comportment and no loss of life, damage to property or violation of any law of the land.

“It is therefore curious that a democratic government would deploy military tanks and troops against such a peaceful assembly of the people in clear violation of the constitutionally guaranteed right of the citizens to freely assemble and express their feelings.

“This is a clear case of intolerance and shutting of the democratic space against the people of Nigeria which must be condemned by all democracy loving people around the world.

“We have equally reviewed the broadcast of President Goodluck Jonathan where he unilaterally offered to reduce the pump price of petrol to N97 per litre.

“This tokenism shows that the display of people power in the last few days has not been in vain but it is far little to be acceptable.

“We demand a reversal to the pre-Jan 1 pump price of N65 per litre as a basis for a conducive atmosphere for a national conversation on the oil sector and how to deal with the corruption that has brought this needless crisis on the 7th largest producer of crude in the world that has been made to depend on import for its refined product consumption.

“In the meantime, we ask our people who have made tremendous sacrifices in the last few days to comply with the stay-at-home directive as a continuation of this mass action and await further directives.

“We salute the resilience of our people who have demonstrated that they have all it takes to fight for their rights on a sustained basis in the most peaceful manner to the chagrin of their adversaries.

“The seed of permanent change had been sown in our land and it would germinate and bear the fruits of freedom.”