David-West Cautions Ijaw Over Fuel Subsidy Crisis

FORMER Minister of Petroleum Resources, Prof. Tam David-West has cautioned the Ijaw against giving ethnic coloration to the fuel subsidy removal crisis.

He told The Guardian in Port Harcourt yesterday that it was wrong for some Ijaw leaders and persons from the Niger Delta to conclude that resistance against fuel subsidy removal was aimed at frustrating and possibly ousting of President Goodluck Jonathan.

Subsidy Crisis: Youths Raze Sokoto INEC Office

Just as the anti-fuel subsidy removal entered day five on Friday in Sokoto State, some youths believed to be members of opposition parties in the state, who were among the protesters, took advantage of the protest and razed down the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Bodinga Local Government Area of the state.

Saturday Tribune correspondent in Sokoto, who visited Bodinga town which is about 20 kilometers from Sokoto metropolis, saw the INEC office in flames by 4 p.m, on Friday. There were also some shops that were set ablaze at the Bodinga market situated at the junction to Danchadi village in the area.

Lagos: Protests Suspended For Two Days

Temporary relief  came the way of the federal and state governments as the organised labour and civil society groups have agreed to suspend the ongoing strikes and mass protests for two days — Saturday and Sunday.

This move, according to them, is to enable their negotiating team move around the country to Abuja for negotiations with the government on fuel subsidy removal.

According to the National Public Relations Officer of Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and Chairman of Rivers State arm of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Chika Onuegbu, “Please, take note that there will be no strike; Saturday and Sunday only. Our members in the aviation industry are hereby requested to allow planes to fly today (Friday), tomorrow (Saturday) and Sunday so the executive labour council can meet.”

OPS, Youth Groups Beg Labour To Save Nigeria From Anarchy

For the first time since the removal of fuel subsidy sparked off nationwide protests which has paralysed the country, the Organised Private Sector (OPS) has called on both government and the labour to urgently nip in the bud the descent of the nation into anarchy.

OPS specifically told Labour to halt the on-going strike to pave way for meaningful dialogue, saying the present state of confusion is an ill-wind that would blow no one any good.

The private sector operators spoke, just as some youth groups from across the country on Friday, berated the wanton loss of lives and property and asked labour to call off the strike forthwith, so that the situation does not further degenerate.

Director General of the Lagos Chambers of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Mr Muda Yusuf, who gave the position of the OPS, lamented the dangerous trend that the entire protest exercise was beginning to take.

He said urgent steps needed to be taken by both labour and the government to arrest the situation before it degenerated into a state of irredeemable chaos.

He said businesses have recorded huge losses as a result of the strike while workers, who were willing to come to work, were molested and manhandled by hoodlums.

Also speaking on the issue, the President of the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry Mines and Agriculture  (ABUCCIMA), Dr Solo-mon Iyangba, noted the concern of the chamber about the seeming hijack of the on-going labour protest across the country by miscreants, who are now going about harassing and intimidating innocent Nigerians and even genuine protesters.

Fuel Subsidy: Presidency Queries Fashola Over Lagos Crowd

Indications are rife that the Federal Government is not happy with the Lagos State government on the open ended opportunity being enjoyed by protesters in his state against the removal of fuel subsidy, and had hence queried the governor on the growing confidence of the protesters.

The government handed over the query to the Lagos State governor, Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola, during a closed door meeting it had with organised labour which had in attendance some select governors, including Fashola.

Lagos has been offering a great source of inspiration to anti-subsidy protesters from across the federation, owing to the huge crowd it exhibits on daily basis at the Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Square at Ojota, Lagos where anti subsidy protest is being held daily since Monday.