…..Says Tinubu supported subsidy removal during the campaign.
The Integrity Youth Alliance has blasted the Arewa Citizens Watch for Good Governance (ACWGG) for calling for the immediate removal of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) Group Managing Chief Executive Officer (GCEO), Mele Kyari.
In a statement on Monday, July 31, 2023, signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Danjuma Lamido, and Patron, Comrade Adewole Kehinde, in Abuja, said that it is absurd for the Arewa Citizens Watch for Good Governance (ACWGG) to call for the sack of Mele Kyari when Nigerians all know that the recent increase in PMS pump prices from N537 to N617 per liter was caused by forces dictated by variations in foreign exchange brought on by global market forces.
The statement read, “It will be recalled that President Tinubu, during his inaugural address at the Eagle Square, Abuja, said the 2023 budget does not have provision for a fuel subsidy regime.
“We wish to enlighten the Arewa Citizens Watch for Good Governance (ACWGG) that, as a Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, has said there is no going back on fuel subsidy removal if elected president next year.
“Tinubu, who stated this while speaking at the business luncheon with business owners titled “Business Forward” on December 22, 2022, in Lagos, hinted that, no matter how long people protest, it would not stop him from removing fuel subsidy.
“So, with the above references, it would be baseless for a group to accuse Mele Kyari of causing “widespread hunger in the northern part of the country” when President Tinubu has made up his mind to remove subsidy when voted into office.
“We would mobilize our members across the 36 States and FCT to counter the Aug. 3 fuel subsidy protest by Arewa Citizens Watch for Good Governance (ACWGG) and show them the benefits of subsidy removal to the Nation’s economy.
The Alliance called on Nigerians to support the Fuel subsidy removal as it would free up resources for other sectors of the economy; would be better spent on education, healthcare, and infrastructure development, amongst other key sectors; would help in establishing domestic refineries to produce more petroleum products, reducing Nigeria’s dependence on imported fuel; ensure the availability of domestic refineries will boost the country’s economy and result in massive creation of jobs for Nigerians.
