Fuel Subsidy: No Nation can sustain N400bn monthly to saboteurs, Natives backs Tinubu

…Calls for revocation of licence of saboteurs, fuel hoarders

A pro-Democracy and anti-sabotage group, The Natives, has declared support for the removal of fuel subsidy by the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, saying no Nation can continue to waste about N400 billions to few people monthly.

The Natives also demanded immediate revocation of licence of some people in oil sector described as “saboteurs” and those hoarding the fuel across the Nigeria.

President Tinubu in his inaugural speech said there was no provision for a fuel subsidy beyond June 2023, adding that “fuel subsidy is gone.”

The declaration has, however, led to fuel scarcity and panic buying.

Addressing a press conference Wednesday in Abuja, the Supreme Leader of the Natives, who also doubled as the Executive Secretary of the Petroleum and Energy Related Matters, Civil Society of Nigeria, Hon. Smard Edwards, urged the new administration to go ahead and reinvest the subsidy money on job creation, digital economy, healthcare, infrastructure, education, agriculture and incentives for the citizens among others.

The group, which comprises of all ethnic groups, languages and tribes with about 20 million members across the country said they rallied in the Sun, stood in the rain, marched in defiance to any sabotage of the country and in defense of democratic sustainability, “this is simply because we are an anti- sabotage organisation, Natives of all tribes and tongues, using our diversity to strengthen the common bond of our Nation, it was therefore fit to defend the mandate freely given.”

Hon. Edwards, while calling on all Nigerians to align with the President’s road map to prosperity of the country, declared that his group will engage President Bola Ahmed Tinubu meaningfully to ensure that the country is governed under the rule of law and for the prosperity of all Nigerians.

He said: “Mr. President, we heard you loud and clear, the budget that you have glimpsed and heard before assuming office makes no room for fuel subsidy, therefore fuel subsidy is gone.

“We want to state clearly that as citizens of Nigeria, we asked for it, we will not postone any dooms day, as a matter of fact there is no doom.

“We asked every candidate for the removal, we demanded it from the past government, we were assured it will never go beyond June, we formed a coalition for the sector, we got the assurance of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Peter Obi, Atiku Abubakar, the NLC, the TUC, the Political Parties, former President Buhari, we asked the Ministry of Finance, we demanded it from NNPC Ltd, we gathered Civil Society for it and we knew it was coming, it will end in June and we will never allow anyone to reinstate this sabotage of our livelihoods.

No country can consistently allow 400billion monthly to a few Nigerians, we support this position and we agree with the NNPC Ltd too, rather the 400billion per month can be invested in the One million Jobs, Digital Economy, Health, Infrastructure, Agriculture, Education and Incentives.

“We call on Mr. President to give no restraint to the immediate revocation of any licence of saboteurs, deal decisively with any attempt to make live unbearable for citizens by any beneficiaries of subsidy or its removal.

“Young people, women, disabled and all Nigerians, the time to reinvest over N400bn monthly on us and for our sake, our parents and our children is here.

“We shall engage President Bola Ahmed Tinubu meaningfully to ensure that this country is governed under the rule of law and for the prosperity of all Nigerians.

“The Natives hereby call on all Nigerians to align with the President whose colours have moved from blue white and red to green white green.”

While congratulating the President and his Vice in his speech titled ” Hope is Here,”, the Natives Supreme Leader said: “The first burden on the Nation is to free Nigeria from those that held us bound by fleecing our resources and improverish our people, it is a new dawn.

“President Abraham Ahmed Tinubu has set to serve, he will make bold decisions, he will consult and will be fair, we trust he will reach out to H.E Atiku Abubakar and H.E Peter Obi and he has already reached out to H.E Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso. We can all build this nation together and the solutions rest in all of us.

“It is not only about elections, its about our history, our bond, the people, the parties, the policies, the progress is all directed towards better life for all Nigerians home and abroad.”