After series of protests, the Jonathan administration caved in to the pressure and settled for a partial subsidy removal that brought the petrol price up to N97 from N65 a litre, instead of the initial N141 it would have been at, had the subsidy been totally removed.
On 12th May, 2016 the Muhammadu Buhari administration announced the removal of the subsidy for the sale of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) with immediate effect. So far, there has been no street protest just e-fights among Nigerians on Twitter, beatification of Goodluck Jonathan on Facebook and massive cheering from the majority of people who criticized fuel subsidy removal in 2012.
Below are the names of prominent Nigerians who Opposed Fuel Subsidy Removal in 2012 and their Stance in 2016 :
Muhammadu Buhari : Before he became President, he fiercely maintained that fuel subsidy ''does not exist'' but few days ago his government just removed a non-existent fuel.
Oby Ezekwesili : Former Education Minister Ezekwesili claims that 2016 is a better year to remove fuel subsidy than 2012 was. For her it's all about ''trust''.
Bola Tinubu : National leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC believes that fuel subsidy removal in 2016 is a ''Necessary pain'' Nigerians have to endure.
Ibe Kachikwu : Even up until his Ministerial screening late last year, Nigeria's Minister of state for petroleum fiercely objected the removal of fuel subsidy. Today, he feels subsidy removal is important to ''sustain supply and reduce the suffering to get the product''.
Nasir El-Rufai : Kaduna state Governor. During the removal of fuel subsidy by the Jonathan administration, he protested saying it was about ''trust not economics'', today El-Rufai feels Nigerians should just stay ''calm and orderly''
Femi Falana : Human Rights activists and lawyer. He was part of the #OccupyNigeria protests. He has openly condemned the Buhari administration for removing fuel subsidy. He's yet to announce a date for fresh protest.
Tolu Ogunlesi : Award-winning journalist and aide to President Buhari openly opposed the removal of fuel subsidy in 2012. He even went as far as likening former President Jonathan to Boko haram, in an opinion piece Ogunlesi wrote, ''What’s the difference between Boko Haram and GEJ? Boko Haram at least claims responsibility. GEJ gets PPPRA to do so on his behalf''. Today, Ogunlesi supports the removal of fuel subsidy by his boss. Just like Ezekwesili, he says it was more about ''trust'' than ''economics''.
Dino Melaye : Senator Melaye opposed fuel subsidy removal in 2012 and is still opposing it today. The flamboyant Senator is threatening to ''lead the mother of all protests'' if the policy is not reversed.
Ikhide Ikheloa: Staunch critic of the Abacha regime and popular lawyer. He opposed fuel subsidy in 2012 and led mass protests to the World Bank in Washington DC. He regrets protesting against subsidy removal in 2012. He wrote, ''After making me dance in protest in 2012 before the World Bank and IMF in OPPOSITION, APC Scraps Petrol Subsidy! ''
Yemi Osinbajo : Vice President Yemi Osinbajo fiercely opposed subsidy removal in the past but today he's touring media houses to educate Nigerians on the ''cost implication of fuel subsidy removal''.
Ayo Sogunro : Popular Nigerian author Sogunro is one of those who regrets protesting against subsidy removal in 2012. in his latest opinion piece ''My Dear President Buhari, Shame On You'' the writer said ''As I have suspected for a while, the unsolicited trekking I undertook from Yaba to Ojota to protest the 2012 subsidy removal is now just an intensive workout session. President Buhari and his team of economic wanksters have taken a leaf from Jonathan and his team of economic wanksters. Worse, the new economists in town have outdone Jonathan’s ambitions of N141/l; they have pushed the price up to N145/l—in spite of Fashola’s touted logic on falling crude oil prices. ''
Funmi Iyanda : She was against the fuel subsidy removal in 2012 and while she has come out to express anger with the way the Buhari administration handled its own removal of feul subsidy, she has however excused her 2012 actions with, ''Yes l was against deregulation by a fantastically corrupt govt mismanaging resources at a time of high oil prices. ''
Tunde Bakare: Convener of Save Nigeria Group, SNG. Though he's yet to comment on the removal of subsidy which he strongly opposed in 2012, we know Bakare supports Buhari all the way. He has always said he will support Buhari in subsidy removal because ''the Save Nigeria Group did not mobilise the people of this country to the Gani Fawehinmi Park, Ojota, merely to protest the removal of the fuel subsidy but to challenge the corruption that defined the fuel subsidy regime.''
The Missing Actors: After participating in the well-publicized #OccupyNigeria in 2012, some key actors have gone silent in the face of subsidy removal in 2016. Are they secretly planning other protests or cowering in their glaring hypocrisy?
Source: Nigerian Bulletin
Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everydayAdvertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
Remember 2012 subsidy removal was, January 1st, 2012. You forgot to mention the masses and the house of Representatives that finally rescue the situation. In my own opinion this is d right time to remove petrol subsidy. Take diesel as a case study for subsidy removal. Diesel is now always available at reasonable price across the fuel stations at within #110 - 130/liter.
ReplyDeletePlease Mr. Anonymous talk sense. Is it because your fellow aboki is in power. Just wait for the time power will change hand you will be amazed that the present government is more corrupt than GEJ regime. IT IS ONLY WHEN POWER CHANGES HAND YOU WILL BE ABLE TO SEE FLAWS
DeleteSycophants who are just after their stomach and pockets. What about wole Soyinka who came out with his white hair but since he has tasted apc money, he has become a rat, hiding in his hole and afraid to speak out lest he be found to have partaken in the lots of yester years. It is very hard to find a responsible and credible Nigerian nowadays. Fantastically corrupt and intellectually bereft people.
ReplyDeletePom kwem! I fantastically/fanatically agree with U.
Deletetrue talk. Now what type of change do we have. Good change or bad change. GOD BLESS GOODLUCK JONATHAN.
DeleteGreat men always stand by their principles but change their views based on facts and realities.
ReplyDeleteThe not so great men....stand by their obtuse principles, if they have one, never change their views, even in the face of reality and facts and end up defeated/dead heroes or villains most of the time.
The realities of today indicate that fuel subsidy is not sustainable. Should we keep living the lie just becos we opposed it in 2012? C'mon Naija!
MUMU! If Sanusi the then CBN governor claimed that our National Assembly consumed 25% of our annual budget, can't these crooks_cum_law breakers reduced their earnings and take home to 10%. The 15% will now be used to subsidise PMS.
DeleteThe only benefit we get from these fantastically corrupt people is being taken away from U and U are too gullible to see beyond Ur nose. I pity U.
If u cant respond to other peoples comment without being abusive,,then u are the NO. 1 MUMU
DeleteThis El-matosky guy is such an asshole...go an try and reduce National assembly money naaa....the one biggest fraud has been removed if u like go an hug a Transformer....if GEJ comes back by magic I will clamour for subsidy to come back...
DeleteGreat post. Nigerians think it is hypocritical for someone to change his or her view on an issue. But indeed, great men reevaluate their position on issues from time to time, based on new realities. 2016 is completely different from 2012. Fuel subsidy was a big scam in 2012. Crude oil price was above $100/barrel. Only small minds would expect to maintain the same view on an issue regardless of changing circumstances.
DeleteIf they now know the truth. Mr. President should come out and apoligize to Mr. Goodluck Jonathan and Nigerians for deceiving them and destroying GEJ and Nigeria by feeding the ilierate Nigerians with lies. HE SUPPOSE TO HAIL GEJ FOR TRYING TO REMOVE SUBSIDY AND APOLOGISE OPENLY FOR THE ABUSES HE USED ON GEJ IN 2012
DeletePastor Tunde Bakare and Ezekwesili have said it all. Those that are against it, should be reasonable rather than being emotional. The President is trying give praise those that deserved it.
ReplyDeleteNonsense
DeletePastor Tunde Bakare and Ezekwesili have said it all. Those that are against it, should be reasonable rather than being emotional. The President is trying give praise those that deserved it.
ReplyDeleteNonsense !
DeleteSo this means that "His Majesty" & chief corruption fighter PMB cannot find good Nigerians to plug d so-called "abuses" in d subsidy program. That subsidy is d only way, we d masses enjoy d wealth of this country. If u are serious about getting things done right, pls reduce by 67% all salaries & allowances for all political office holders. That will even reduce d "do or die" notion for those seeking political positions as it will lose its fatal attraction.
ReplyDeleteNigeria is useless
ReplyDeleteYour own country is useless abi?... I can blame you.
ReplyDeleteAnd is just a party of deceit.
ReplyDeleteI reject it, Nigeria is not useless.
ReplyDeleteIt's a pity that some of the common masses are standing on subsidy removal. This is what it simply means. What the federal government cannot afford to pay, you are now asked to pay for it. Not considering that you are not well paid and lots of the masses are jobless. The federal Government's decision is very insensitive and shameless. They seriously do not have the masses at heart. We export our raw material to be refined and shipped back To us. The cost of shipping in and out and profits margins of refining firm is paid by a common man who is not well paid. Since they claim our refineries can only produce 40% of national consumption, reducing the number of privately owned cars to the least minimal would have been a more honourable thing to do. There was a time the Indians refused to use what they do not produce. Am just tired of the clueless and self centred leader we have in this country.
ReplyDeleteShameless people. Gen Tunde Idiagbon remains the only true Nigeria with integrity and principle as far as I am concerned. Others are pretenders looking for opportunity. May he rest in peace. Ameen.
ReplyDeleteFELLOW NIGERIANS. SHOUT WITH ME APCCCCCCCCCCCCCC CHANGEEE FOR THE WORST. Expect more terrible things in future. 1. Complete destruction of opposition 2. Destruction of freedom to speak and destruction of journalism 3. Installation of GMB as the god of Nigeria. Forget free and fair election, 2019 election will not be free and fair. NIGERIANS WILL MISS GEJ IN 2019
ReplyDelete