The Coalition of South East Youth Leaders has described the fuel price increase from N520 to N617 as a calculated attempt by the Federal Government to impoverish Nigerians.
The group, in a statement signed by its President General, Goodluck Ibem, and Publicity Secretary, Okey Nwaoru, on Wednesday, said the FG’s action was a gross insensitivity and wickedness of the highest order.
It said, “The recent fuel price hike has proved beyond every reasonable doubt that the previous fuel price increment from N198 to N520 was not as a result of subsidy removal, but it is a well-calculated attempt to impoverish Nigerians so that they will not have the energy and strength to challenge the Federal Government in whatever way.
“Before former President Muhammadu Buhari handed over to President Bola Tinubu, fuel was sold for N198 in fuel stations and upon assumption of office of President Tinubu, he unilaterally increased it from N198 to N520 and N550 depending on the state.
“When Nigerians are still battling with hardship to settle with the previous price of N520, the same President Tinubu within two months in office increased the same fuel price to N617.
“If we minus the new President Tinubu’s fuel price of N617 from N198 of former President Buhari’s old price, the answer is N419. This tells Nigerians the kind of President we are dealing with.”
The group pointed out that it is high time Nigerians threw away ethnicity, tribe, religion and other evil tactics used by the political class to divide the people and face the monsters who are hell-bent on destroying the livelihood of the common masses.
It said the action showed that the true Nigerian people are targeted for extinction by the political class in power.
“Now that the fuel price has been increased to N617 per litre, do we have any Yoruba, Hausa/Fulani or Igbo fuel stations where his tribe men or religious members can buy it at a cheaper rate? The answer is capital No!
“We, therefore, call on the Nigerian Labour Congress, the Trade Union Congress, Nigerian Youths, all traders and businessmen/women, all trade unions and all Nigerian students in the entire nation to come out en masse for a protest march against this evil and wickedness brought upon Nigerians by President Bola Tinubu.
“Nigerians can no longer breathe again in their own country. Too sad! It is very unfortunate that a few people in Aso Rock are eating and enjoying while the majority of the Nigerian citizens suffer and die in abject poverty in the midst of plenty and abundant natural mineral resources.
“The time to liberate Nigeria from her oppressors is now. We must march on the streets of the 36 states of Nigeria, including the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja until the fuel price is reversed to its old price of N198 per litre.
“We don’t need any palliatives, we only want a reversal of the fuel price to N198 per litre. Enough said!” it added.
