The Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party, Ife Central Local Government, Prince Falabi Nurudeen has warned Major and independent marketers to stop hoarding of premium motor spirit to costumers in the state.
Falabi in statement described the act of hoarding of fuel by Marketers as evil and inhumanity to man, adding that the actions of the marketers were deliberate with a view to make more profit at the expense of the poor masses seizing opportunity of federal government suspension of fuel subsidy.
He noted that many of the filing stations have enough petrol in their stations to dispense to customers but decided to use the opportunity to make more profit from the present situation. The action of the fuel marketers are act of sabotage which is detrimental to economic growth of the country.
“The sudden hike in petrol price and attendant queues is unfair, I think it’s unfair of our major marketers to seize opportunities in areas when not needed. We all need to be sincere in this country if we really want to get things done. Let us know that we might need to belt up a little bit, but we really need it so that we can have a better life in future.
“The presidential address should not have caused queues, but I’m sure the Federal Government is able to deal with it. I encourage everyone to be law abiding, go about their normal businesses and things will turn out for the better for us”, the statement added.
The PDP chairman averred that the Marketers were just taking undue advantage of Nigerians to further enrich themselves when there is no situation for such, stressing that the Osun State government has taken steps to sanction defaulters among the fuel marketers.
The statement further noted that Nigeria needs shock absorbers first before fuel subsidy can be removed. It is not a good way to announce a cost-driving macroeconomic policy like fuel ‘subsidy’ removal by just making it in an inaugural address. The fuel subsidy removal is not well thought out, coming as an inaugural speech. It is going to draw the nation’s economy backward within hours.
“Government needs to fix food inflation and structure for social investments before removing subsidy. The subsidy can’t be removed without reducing waste in government. Government can’t be living large while the citizens bear the higher cost of living. The fuel subsidy removal requires tactics.
The statement recalled that Osun State government has warned that any fuel station found guilty of hoarding fuel to create artificial scarcity shall be sealed off and operators prosecuted for crime of economic sabotage,” the statement added.
