Afe Babalola chides NNPCL for dictating petrol price, warns against monopoly

The founder of Afe Babalola University Ado Ekiti (ABUAD), Chief Afe Babalola, SAN, has chided the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) for creating a monopoly by dictating the price of Premium Motor Spirit in an already deregulated market.

This was echoed by the legal icon and Senate Leader, Mr. Opeyemi Bamidele, who called for a change of mindset by the people, urging them to imbibe the teachings of Jesus Christ, who urged people to love their neighbours as themselves. He stated that through this the many challenges facing the country could be solved.

The duo made these statements at the weekend during the presentation of awards to Chief Babalola and Senator Bamidele by the Ekiti Kete Coalition, USA, which took place at the ABUAD campus.

Babalola was conferred with the award of “Outstanding Achiever of All Times,” while Senator Bamidele received the award of “Outstanding Political Icon” at the event.

The ABUAD founder said the Dangote refinery must be allowed to sell petrol at its own price, calling on the government to encourage those with financial resources to build refineries to create competitiveness.

“Years back when I was studying for my degree in economics, I learned that free trade is the best for any society. If Dangote can go all out to spend his money and even borrow money to put up such a huge refinery, why is it that NNPCL is asking him to sell to them before selling to us?

“Let all those who can afford to build a refinery do so and sell to the people. There should be no monopoly of NNPCL dictating prices. Let Dangote sell at his own rate; you will be surprised that when there is competition when others join, the price will come down automatically.”

The legal icon wondered why people in his home state have not deemed it fit and proper to honour him, despite his contributions to the emergence and development of Ekiti. “I do not know why it has to take those living in America to appreciate me when those of you who are here do not appreciate me. Maybe now it is a big lesson for you people,” he added.

In his remarks, the Senate Leader, who was represented by the Special Adviser to the Ekiti State Governor on Housing and Mortgage Matters, Dr Gboyega Oloniyo, said there is no state government that won’t recognize Babalola for what he is doing for humanity and the economy of Ekiti State. He said it would take a long time to match him.

Speaking on the change of mindset, Senator Bamidele posited that people are pathologically challenged, saying that dexterity in deliverables is no longer available.

He said, “We are a generation that is doing too much of nothing, while Baba Afe is doing much with little. Baba Afe has demonstrated that roses can be grown in poverty.”

In his address, the President of the Ekiti Kete Coalition, USA, Joe Olugbamila, regretted that the Ekiti State House of Assembly could reject a motion seeking to honour Chief Babalola while he was still alive, despite his contributions to humanity and Ekiti State.

“Look at us in Ekiti; education is our major industry. Every household has a graduate in Ekiti, and Baba Afe has invested heavily in this sector. His university is one of the best in the whole world. The State House of Assembly that refused to pass the motion forgot that they represent the people of Ekiti. It is not what they want but what the Ekiti people want that matters.”

Olugbamila therefore called on the State Assembly to review its stance and join the Ado Ekiti community, which has already set aside a day called “Afe Babalola Day” in honour of the legal icon.