Tinubu’s 30-Day Petrol Discount Is A Packaged Deceit
OpenLife News reports that the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has described the 30-day petrol discount announced by the Federal Government through NNPC retail outlets as packaged deceit and tokenism.
In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director Esq, the party said the policy is a Greek gift from a government that removed fuel subsidy without proper consultation or cushioning measures for Nigerians.
The Federal Government had announced the discount through the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Taiwo Oyedele, who said: “We are offering a discount on petrol dispensed by NNPC Limited for the next 30 days in the first instance, with priority for public transporters nationwide. So, it’s not a subsidy.
“The government is just saying we sell to you at cost.”
But the NDC said the explanation cannot fool Nigerians.
“This is nothing but tokenism and a Greek gift from a government that whimsically removed fuel subsidy without proper consideration, consultation, or cushions for Nigerians. Nigerians cannot be deceived,” the statement read.
The party queried the fate of millions who lost their jobs and businesses following the subsidy removal, as well as those who lost their lives in poorly equipped hospitals.
“What happens to the millions of Nigerians who lost their jobs and whose businesses collapsed as a result of the callous and poorly planned removal of subsidy?
“What about those who lost their lives in poorly equipped government hospitals that have now become mortuaries?
“It is clear that President Bola Tinubu and the APC government are desperate, and Nigerians must not be deceived.
“Emilokanomics has failed woefully,” the NDC stated.
The opposition party further argued that attempting to reintroduce subsidy through the backdoor shows a government in free fall.
“The attempt to reintroduce petrol subsidy through the backdoor is not only mischievous but a sign of a government in free fall, ready to clutch at anything to survive.”
The NDC also questioned the practicability of the plan, asking how many NNPC outlets exist to serve over 200 million Nigerians and warning that it could lead to stampedes at filling stations.
“Even the bogus promise to dispense discounted fuel at designated NNPC retail outlets is not pragmatic.
“How many such outlets exist in Nigeria to serve over 200 million Nigerians?
“Is this not the recipe for another stampede that could have many more Nigerians trampled to death at the filling stations?” it asked.
According to the party, the economy is in a tailspin and the APC has shown itself incapable of rescuing the country from collapse.
“Several questions beg for answers, but the only answer staring Nigerians in the face is that the economy is in a tailspin and at a tipping point.
“The APC has shown itself glaringly incapable of rescuing the country from imminent collapse.
“But hope is on the way,” the statement added.
The NDC said its presidential hopeful, Peter Obi, would put Nigeria back on track, urging Nigerians to vote massively for him and other NDC candidates on January 15, 2027.
“His Excellency Peter Obi, under the NDC, will put Nigeria back on the right track. A New Nigeria is POssible with Obi.
“In a few months, specifically on 15th January, 2027, Nigerians should come out en masse and vote for Peter Obi and all other NDC candidates to vote out the most clueless and rudderless government in the history of Nigeria,” the party concluded.
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