The Movement for Revolutionary Change (MRC) and the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) have condemned the Federal Government’s decision to cut fuel subsidy, which has pushed up the price of petrol from N65 per litre to N141.

While MRC described the decision as “most heartless, unreasonable and insensitive to the plight of Nigerians”, the CPC said it amounted to “a declaration of war on the Nigerian people.”

MRC, in a statement by its Coordinator, Babatope Babalobi, noted that that  was  the first time any government in the country would, by fiat, increase the price of petrol by more than 100 percent under the pretext of removing ‘oil subsidy’, adding that raising fuel price on New year day shows that “government is more interested in fostering poverty rather that transforming lives.”

Urging Nigerians to brace up for tougher times ahead, the group pointed out that with majority of Nigerians living on less than $1 a day, the implication of the new arrangement would be that most of them would not be able to afford the new fares likely to be charged in public transport systems. 

Accusing the Federal Government of 
not being concerned with the plight of the common man, Mr. Babalobi said passing the responsibility of announcing the contentious decision to the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) showed that the present administration lacked the moral character to stand by it. 

Expressing disappointment that government had refused to consider the alternatives to removal of fuel subsidy such as improved  transparency and accountability in the oil sector, construction of new and rehabilitation of existing refineries, the MRC urged Nigerians to prepare to join in resisting government actions aimed at pauperizing the people. 

As far as the CPC is concerned, government’s decision to go ahead in implementing the policy without the consent of the people is clearly undemocratic.

Its National Publicity Secretary, Rotimi Fashakin, said: “The Federal Government action is not only treacherous, but a very callous desire to hurt the Nigerian people, while pandering to the imperialistic intervention of foreign interests. Undoubtedly, this latest decision clearly negates the provision of Section 14(2b) of the constitution that: “the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.”