Fuel subsidy removal , illegal – CNPP

By Tony Edike

ENUGU – The Conference of Nigerian Political Parties, CNPP, Monday, described as illegal the removal of fuel subsidy by the Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulatory, PPPRA.

In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Osita Okechukwu, the group said the removal of subsidy was allegedly meant to cause confusion in the polity.

The CNPP said: “The statement emanating from the spokesman of PPPRA to the effect that they had removed the Fuel Subsidy did not follow the due process, the rule of law, is unfortunately contrary to the PPPRA Act and therefore illegal null, void and of no effect.

“That the Board of the PPPRA has not met and any decision of such magnitude taking without the Board is illegal, ultra vires and meant only to satisfy President Goodluck Jonathan and his Food is Ready cohorts.”

Fighting over fuel at a petrol station in Kaduna, Monday.Photo: Olu Ajayi

“To the best of our knowledge the PPPRA Act has not been amended by the NASS.”

Reaffirming what it called its 7-Point-Charter, the CNPP asked  President Jonathan to build New Refineries saying if the government had no confidence that “Nigerians can manage refineries, we don’t have confidence that you can manage the withdrawal proceeds.”

“The president should stop the rampant corruption in Fuel Importation; for the actual cost of production of a litre of PMS is N39;

” He should stop Rampant Corruption in Fuel Importation; for if he cannot probe the corruption, you cannot Guarantee the Proceeds to be   withdrawn;

“Removal of Fuel Subsidy is a road Nigerians had passed severally since 1978; the serial promises made to Nigerians were broken and the pains of serial removal of Fuel Subsidy have remained permanent.”

While urging the president not to push Nigerians to the street because, according to it,  the citizens  went to the street to make him president and would not like to go to the street to remove him as president, the CNPP, however, called on all patriots to join the mother of Mass Action being planned against the fuel subsidy removal.