The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described as extortionate and provocative the N617 per litre price of fuel that it said was endorsed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by its national spokesman, Debo Ologunagba, the party blamed the hike in price on APC’s alleged maladministration and “exhibition of extreme insensitivity and callousness towards Nigerians.”
The Party observed that the increase was worsening the already suffocating economic situation under the APC and has the capability of triggering a very serious crisis in the country if not abated.
The statement added: “It is appalling that instead of seeking ways to stabilize and grow the economy, the APC administration has abandoned the welfare of Nigerians which is the primary purpose of Government under Section 14 (2)(b) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and left the citizens to the vagaries of market forces and exploitative cabal; a disposition that is characteristic of a government that is not accountable to the people.”
The main opposition party said it was alarmed that with “its ill-thought out, badly planned and hurriedly-executed policies, the APC is running Nigeria’s economy aground with the value of naira rapidly plummeting, businesses and production shutting down; citizens losing their means of livelihood, commercial and social activities crippled, with millions of families no longer able to afford their daily needs as the costs of food, medication and other essential goods and services continue to skyrocket.
“The present dire situation comes as a consequence of APC’s insensitivity, seething corruption, scandalous cluelessness and lack of capacity to effectively steady and manage the nation’s economy.
“Indeed, this is not the nation that Nigerians yearned for after the abysmal, harrowing and inhuman eight years of the Buhari-led APC administration as the situation has currently gone from a frightening bad to a terrifying worse with no hope in sight.”
The PDP dismissed APC’s “insensitive and lame argument” of market forces and comparison of the price of fuel in Nigeria with those of other countries which have functional infrastructure, variety of affordable alternative transportation systems and sources of energy; strong currency and where citizens earn far higher than what obtains in Nigeria.
The statement further said: “Our Party insists that the N617 per litre of fuel is excessive, unacceptable and cannot be justified under any guise. This is especially given the economic potentials and prospects within our country.
“Even with the removal of subsidy on petroleum products, the PDP maintains that with a deft, transparent and innovative management of resources, economic potentials, national comparative advantage and expanded value chain in refining capacity, fuel should not sell for more than N150 per litre in Nigeria.”
