Opposition parties flay President, APC, urge end to crisis

Newly registered Action Democratic Party (ADP) and Alliance For New Nigeria (ANN) have called on President Muhammadu Buhari and his ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to find a lasting solution to the current shortage of petrol nationwide.

Expressing disappointment in the alleged shabby handling of the whole issue, ADP’s National Chairman, Yabagi Sani, noted that the current administration had failed Nigerians who entrusted so much faith in Buhari to end long queues at the filling stations and the associated fraud with fuel subsidy over the years.

He regretted that two years after mounting the saddle, the President was yet to effectively tackle the challenge.

On Vice President Yemi Osinbajo’s claim that government no longer pays subsidy but the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Sani queried:
“Who is responsible for the shameful handling of the fuel crisis and on whose behalf is the corporation doing business?”

He said it was unfortunate that the government is still faced with the option of either increasing the pump price of petrol or paying of subsidy.

Sani continued: “I think the government should be responsible enough to admit its failures and frustrations instead of giving excuses and pointing fingers at the opposition.

“We at the ADP indeed sympathise with Nigerians who had to go through untold hardship to rejoin their families at Christmas. We are also aware that many citizens may have to sell personal effects to return to work in January. It is our hope that the APC government will apologise and proffer solutions in the remaining 13 months before the curtain is drawn on their tenure.”

To the Interim National Chairman of the AAN, Dr. Jay Osi Samuel, the situation had forced the prices of goods and services to go up beyond the reach of an average Nigerian.  He blamed poor governance for the problem.

His words: “The needless suffering of our compatriots in fuel queues, high cost of living and general sense of insecurity in the land are a thing of concern even as we urge government to take urgent steps to address them.

“I am confident that with the right leadership, Nigeria will emerge a better and stronger nation that every citizen would be proud of. I believe that the Nigeria of our dream is achievable and would be achieved if we all come together.”