…begin preparations to mobilise other CSOs for mass action
Executive Director, Citizens Awareness Against Corruption and Social Vices Initiative( CAACASVI), Comrade Olumuyiwa Onlede, says following the exhaustion of the seven-day ultimatum given the management of NNPC Limited to make fuel readily available without long queue, it is now pertinent for the group to mobilise other Civil Society Organisations and patriotic Nigerians across the country for a peaceful protest in selected states in the six geopolitical zones of the country.
He said on Friday in a statement that the protest was to demand that President Muhammadu Buhari relieved key management staff of NNPC Limited of their appointments and replace them with those who would bring new ideas on board to ensure things were done differently.
He said arrangement for the protest was already in top gear, urging all relevant civil society organisations and individuals “interested in salvaging the current fuel situation by joining the protest to come out en masse without fear to lend their voice to correcting the anomalies and the situation in the oil sector due to sharp practices and agenda to exploit Nigerians at all cost.
“As we speak today, fuel is being sold in filling stations beyond the official pump price, for example in Kaduna State a litre of fuel sells for between #250 to #280, the situation is the same in Sokoto, Ibadan, Oshogbo, Uyo, Calabar, Imo, Enugu and Port Harcourt to mention a few.
“Our findings show that it is only in FCT that marketers are adhering to the official pump price of #165 per litre and this is due to the closeness to the seat of power, every other state in Nigeria is experiencing long queue and exploitation.
“We will not relent on our effort in fighting for the good of the country and her people by demanding for a change of baton in non-performing agencies NNPC Limited inclusive, as we believe that this is the only way we can have the present situation overturned,” he said.
He said the group urged Nigerians and civil society organisations to take note of the following information;
That interested protesters should converge in the following selected locations by 9 am on Tuesday 15th March 2022 to meet our coordinators and members for further instructions.
Lagos —-Gani Fawehimi Freedom Park, Ojota
Abuja—–Unity Fountain
Oshogbo——Nelson Mandela Freedom Park
Kaduna——–Kofar Gamji Park, Doki
Ilorin———-Kwara Amusement Park, Unity Road
Jos————-Solomon Lar Amusement park, Domkak Bali Road
Port Harcourt——-Isaac Boro Park, Mile 1
Owerri———Imo Golf and Amusement Park, Ugwu Orji.
He recalled that on the 3rd day of March, 2022 we wrote a protest letter to the management of NNPC limited giving the Group Managing Director a 7 days ultimatum to end the fuel scarcity and long queue, pain and anguish being experienced by Nigerians in filling stations across the country or face mass action.
“But for reasons best known to the management of NNPC limited instead of acting to salvage the situation they have decided to look the other way, proving once again that their only priority is staying put in the exalted office they occupy and the benefit accrued thereof.
“For the record, our struggle is geared towards a better living condition for Nigerians and a better country as a whole where the impact of government will be felt positively by the people through judicious use of power and resources for the betterment of the people.
“The advent of President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR to lead the country at the time when the major source of revenue is at the lowest ebb in the international market is suppose to be a blessing and not a curse as being proven on a daily basis by the actions and inactions of some of his appointees that seems not to be working in tandem with the presidents vision and the manifesto of his party.
“The assertion that the president is a good man but lacks good people to work with must be corrected in one way or the other as we believe that among the 200 million people of the country there are alot of good and competent people that can help the president achieve his aim of transforming Nigeria to a better country in all ramification.
“It is so sad that as citizens and civil society organisation our attention is always on the president for blame game thereby giving non performing appointees the leverage to always work at parallel line with the president, we must change this attitude if the kind of precarious situation we find our self as a nation must change.”