ADVERTISEMENT
  • The Membership Club
  • PT Hausa
  • About Us
  • Advert Rates
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
Thursday, April 22, 2021
Premium Times Nigeria
  • Home
  • Gender
  • News
    • Headline Stories
    • Top News
    • More News
    • Foreign
  • Investigations
  • Business
    • News Reports
    • Financial Inclusion
    • Analysis and Data
    • Business Specials
    • Opinion
    • Oil/Gas Reports
      • FAAC Reports
      • Revenue
  • Opinion
  • Health
    • COVID-19
    • News Reports
    • Investigations
    • Data and Infographics
    • Health Specials
    • Features
    • Events
    • Primary Health Tracker
  • Agriculture
    • News Report
    • Research & Innovation
    • Data & Infographics
    • Special Reports/Features
    • Investigations
    • Interviews
    • Markets
  • Arts/Life
    • Arts/Books
    • Kannywood
    • Lifestyle
    • Music
    • Nollywood
    • Travel
  • Sports
    • Football
    • More Sports News
    • Sports Features
  • Projects
    • #EndSARS Dashboard
    • Parliament Watch
    • Panama Papers
    • Paradise Papers
    • AGAHRIN
  • Home
  • Gender
  • News
    • Headline Stories
    • Top News
    • More News
    • Foreign
  • Investigations
  • Business
    • News Reports
    • Financial Inclusion
    • Analysis and Data
    • Business Specials
    • Opinion
    • Oil/Gas Reports
      • FAAC Reports
      • Revenue
  • Opinion
  • Health
    • COVID-19
    • News Reports
    • Investigations
    • Data and Infographics
    • Health Specials
    • Features
    • Events
    • Primary Health Tracker
  • Agriculture
    • News Report
    • Research & Innovation
    • Data & Infographics
    • Special Reports/Features
    • Investigations
    • Interviews
    • Markets
  • Arts/Life
    • Arts/Books
    • Kannywood
    • Lifestyle
    • Music
    • Nollywood
    • Travel
  • Sports
    • Football
    • More Sports News
    • Sports Features
  • Projects
    • #EndSARS Dashboard
    • Parliament Watch
    • Panama Papers
    • Paradise Papers
    • AGAHRIN
Premium Times Nigeria
BUA Group Ad BUA Group Ad BUA Group Ad
ADVERTISEMENT
Nigerians pay tributes to slain protesters, as former FCT Minister urges steadfastness

The attendance was massive on the second day

Nigerians pay tributes to slain protesters, as former FCT Minister urges steadfastness

byPremium Times
January 10, 2012
4 min read

Protesters in Abuja today paid glowing tributes to Nigerian youths who were killed in cold blood by the Police in various locations while participating in the nationwide protest called by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) Nigeria to protest the removal of fuel subsidy.

Apart from referring to them as gallant heroes who lost their lives fighting to reclaim their country, the NLC president, Abdulwaheed Omar, urged Nigerians to ensure that they did not die in vain.

A minute’s  silence was observed by the protesters in honour of murdered protesters and the NLC officials reiterated the union’s determination to ensure that the killers of the innocent protesters were made to face criminal charges.

According to the NLC President, the aim of the protest is not to fight anybody, even in the face of provocative actions by government against the people, pointing out that labour’s objective is to pressurise government to reverse the anti-people policy of petrol price increase and save the country from unnecessary crisis.

Nigerians pay tributes to slain protesters, as former FCT Minister urges steadfastness

Former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nasir el Rufai, urged the people to remain firm and reject any government that does not listen to them, pointing out that the protest is not only to express disagreement with government over the removal of subsidy on petrol, but to demand the repair of the refineries and better governance.

“We are rejecting the President’s New year gift. We want his shoes,” Mr. el Rufai said. “Nigerians must remain steadfast till the price of petrol goes back to N65. We will not stop, even if the price goes back to N100, N90 or N70 per litre. We are not going to be tired because the fight for freedom does not take place in a day, week or month.

“For those that are saying the government is broke, and that government must withdraw subsidy for the economy to survive, we can tell them where to find money. If government can cut the N3million daily provided in this year’s budget for the food of Mr President and his deputy; N200million to water the gardens in the Presidential villa; N45million for newspapers; N800million for furniture maintenance and N11billion for foreign travels, there will be enough money to execute projects without removing fuel subsidy.”

TUC President General, Peter Esele, said the protest was not just about a rejection of the high fuel price, but also against high corruption in government.

RelatedNews

UPDATED : How Deby’s death in Chad may affect Nigeria’s security – FG

Pantami and the Charge of Extremism, By Mohammed Dahiru Aminu

Chad: Rebels threaten to take over capital after President Deby’s killing

INTERVIEW: We were elected to develop Kaduna State, not just to pay civil servants — El-Rufai

He said a country which appropriates over N3.2trillion for recurrent expenditure as against N1trillion for capital projects, would make no progress.

He said the only reason government was asking Nigerians to pay more for petrol is was to enable it to have have enough money to service the huge huge appetite of officials for corruption.

Another NLC official, Isa Aremu, said the protest amounted to the struggle for the country’s second independence after our forebears won our initial independence from the colonial masters.

“We must fight to liberate ourselves from local imperialists. We are citizens, not refugees in our own country, that government has promised to give us palliatives,” Mr. Aremu said.

TEXEM

A 71-year old pensioner, who spoke at the rally, accused the government of mortgaging the country to foreign capitalist organizations such as like the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) as well as the European Union (EU), whose official delegations, he pointed out, visited the country shortly before the decision by the government to remove the petrol subsidy.

“President Jonathan has identified the cabal as the greatest beneficiaries of the corrupt subsidy regime in the oil industry, but failed to go after them, because he is a member of the cabal. Early this week, he also said the terrorist group, Boko Haram, has infiltrated his government. Yet he does not have the courage name to the culprits. How are we sure he is not a member of the Boko Haram?” he queried.

Nigerians pay tributes to slain protesters, as former FCT Minister urges steadfastness

A representative of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) urged the President to reciprocate the good gesture of Nigerians by reversing the policy he said has inflicted so much pain on the people.

“When Jonathan came to tell us that he did not have shoes, Nigerians bought shoes for him, and he wants to use the same shoe to trample on us,” he said. “We should not allow him do that to us. When he was campaigning, he said he was poor. Today, he is rich, but he wants to impoverish all Nigerians”.

ADVERTISEMENT

A Niger Delta youth activist, who commended former President, Musa Yar’adua, for the Amnesty programme that has resulted in the peace in the region, challenged Mr. Jonathan to show what he had done for the youth since he took over as president apart from inflicting more pains on parents, who are already burdened with high school fees and lecturersstrike.

Nigerians pay tributes to slain protesters, as former FCT Minister urges steadfastness

Today’s turnout was more than double the population on the first day of the protest, with Christians and Moslems taking turns to observe their prayers in the course of the protest, with adherents of both group singing the National Anthem together at the end of every hour.

After about 20 kilometres trek around major streets adjoining the Julius Berger area of the city, the protesters decided to begin a day-long overnight sit-in at the AP Junction at Wuse 2.

  • WhatsApp
  • Tweet
  • Email
  • Print
  • Telegram
  • More
  • Share on Tumblr
  • Pocket

Support PREMIUM TIMES' journalism of integrity and credibility

Good journalism costs a lot of money. Yet only good journalism can ensure the possibility of a good society, an accountable democracy, and a transparent government.

For continued free access to the best investigative journalism in the country we ask you to consider making a modest support to this noble endeavour.

By contributing to PREMIUM TIMES, you are helping to sustain a journalism of relevance and ensuring it remains free and available to all.

Donate


TEXT AD: To advertise here . Call Willie +2347088095401...


JOIN THE CONVERSATION

  • Disqus (0)
premiumtimes



PT Mag Campaign AD

Previous Post

Senate plans soft-landing for Jonathan

Next Post

Kano Shiites support mass protests

Premium Times

Premium Times

More News

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo

NEC backs finance minister, says no money printed

April 22, 2021
Minister of Communication, Dr Isa Ali Pantami [PHOTO CREDIT: @FMoCDENigeria]

Presidency speaks on Pantami’s controversial past

April 22, 2021
FILE: Photo of a burnt police station used to illustrate the story

Two police officers killed by gunmen in Enugu – Official

April 22, 2021
India on map

India record world’s largest single-day COVID-19 infection

April 22, 2021
Edo state map

Suspected kidnappers kill civil defence officer in Edo – Official

April 22, 2021
President Muhammadu Buhari signing

Buhari approves appointment of 18 Appeal Court judges

April 22, 2021
Next Post
Kano Shiites support mass protests

Kano Shiites support mass protests

Labour suspends protest rallies in Kano

Labour suspends protest rallies in Kano

Discussion about this post

Search

#EndSARS: Latest Updates




Polaris Bank


JAIZ Ad


Explore Akwa Ibom Ad


Explore Akwa Ibom Ad


Access Bank Ad


NITDA Ad





Glo Ad

Subscribe to News via Email

Enter your email address and receive notifications of news by email.

Join 1,656,257 other subscribers.

Advertisement






netherland biz school Advert



Zenith Advert

ADVERTISEMENT

Our Digital Network

  • PT Hausa
  • Election Centre
  • Human Trafficking Investigation
  • Centre for Investigative Journalism
  • National Conference
  • Press Attack Tracker
  • PT Academy
  • Dubawa
  • LeaksNG
  • Campus Reporter

Resources

  • Oil & Gas Facts
  • List of Universities in Nigeria
  • LIST: Federal Unity Colleges in Nigeria
  • NYSC Orientation Camps in Nigeria
  • Nigeria’s Federal/States’ Budgets since 2005
  • Malabu Scandal Thread
  • World Cup 2018
  • Panama Papers Game
  • Our Digital Network
  • About Us
  • Resources
  • Projects
  • Data & Infographics
  • DONATE

All content is Copyrighted © 2020 The Premium Times, Nigeria

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • COVID-19
  • News
    • Headline Stories
    • Top News
    • More News
    • Foreign
  • Investigations
  • Business
    • News Reports
    • Financial Inclusion
    • Analysis and Data
    • Business Specials
    • Opinion
    • Oil/Gas Reports
      • FAAC Reports
      • Revenue
  • Agriculture
    • News Report
    • Research & Innovation
    • Data & Infographics
    • Special Reports/Features
    • Investigations
    • Interviews
    • Markets
  • Arts/Life
    • Arts/Books
    • Kannywood
    • Lifestyle
    • Music
    • Nollywood
    • Travel
  • Sports
    • Football
    • More Sports News
    • Sports Features
  • Projects
    • Panama Papers
    • Paradise Papers
    • Parliament Watch
    • AGAHRIN
  • Opinion
  • PT Hausa
  • The Membership Club
  • Dubawa
    • Dubawa NG
  • About Us
    • Advert Rates
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
  • Digital Store
  • DONATE

All content is Copyrighted © 2020 The Premium Times, Nigeria

Our website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.
loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.