The Conference of Minority Tribes in Nigeria in conjunction with the Nigeria Unemployed Youth Vanguard and 35 other civil society organisations in Nigeria will on Monday hold a one million man march to express their support for President Muhammadu Buhari on the bold step he took in removing fuel subsidy.
The Coordinator and Chief Convener of the Forum, Comrade Okpokwu Ogenyi, who spoke with newsmen on Friday in Abuja on the planned protest, commended Nigerians for their trust for a government whose interest is of the common man.
Ogenyi said: “We are not very poor as a Nation but some certain elements called cabal hitherto hijack the system in the name of oil subsidy.
“Successive governments had tried in removing the oil subsidy, otherwise known as deregulation of the down stream sector of the oil industry.
“It’s either the previous governments lack the political will to salvage our dear country or lack the confidence of Nigerians in implementing such idea.
“Today, Nigerians are happy for having a President who enjoy the confidence of Nigerians and as well has the political will to redefine the history of our country, by alleviating the sufferings of the common masses.
“We must commend a leader with zero tolerance for corruption whose regime is restoring hope for the hopeless Nigerians and as well, redeeming the image of our dear country before the international community.
“In 2012, we mobilised ourselves as civil society bodies against the decision of then government of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan to remove subsidy because we do not trust him, basically because he did not take practical steps that convince Nigerians as President Buhari did by excluding oil subsidy from the 2016 appropriation bill which is the working budget of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“It shows that Mr. President belongs to nobody and belongs to everybody. We must support a true idea that promises hope for Nigerians.
“We have agreed to support the decision of the Federal Government, especially in the area of oil subsidy removal. As you can see, those protesting against oil subsidy removal are scanty which shows that Nigerians are not with them. As civil societies, we must stand with the ordinary Nigerian in ensuring a better standard of living for our dear citizens. We call on the factional NLC to immediately suspend her actions or face the wrath of the ordinary Nigerians. With the recent unpatriotic actions of the Ayuba Wabba-led faction of NLC, Nigerians are angry with him.
“The Nigeria Labour Congress genuinely is not protesting the subsidy but because of the faction in it, Wabba is seeking for recognition that he may be know by Nigerians. We do not have to toll the part of cheap popularity to the detriment of our people.
“We shall lead Nigerians in a one million man solidarity march in Abuja and major cities in Nigeria in support of government decision that removed oil subsidy on Monday, 23rd May 2016.
“Mr. President is a man of his word. He promised to end Boko Haram and today Boko Haram is almost a history, we are confident that Mr President will not reverse himself on this subsidy removal, besides, there is no provision for it in the Nation Budget.
“We call on all well meaning Nigerians to stand with the Federal Government to end corruption been perpetuated in the name of oil subsidy.”
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