OPC, CDHR, cleric, Nollywood react

LEADER of Oodua Peo­ples Congress (OPC), Chief Gani Adams has kicked against incre­ment in price of petrol.

“This is not the best of time for such an in­crease because there is hardship already in the land. I don’t think this is the best way for Mr. President to say ‘thank you’ to Nigerians for vot­ing him into power. This action negates the expec­tation of Nigerians, who will definitely suffer due to the increase, “Adams said.

To the National Presi­dent of the Committee For Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), Barris­ter Malachy Ugwuma­du, the increment “has come as a rude shock, not because the seem­ing signs were not there as we battle with the uncertainty in the petro­leum sector. We are re­ally in for trouble.”

But, founder of Prison Rehabilitation Mission International (PREMI), Bishop Kayode Wil­liams endorsed subsidy removal and insisted it was a necessary pain the nation must bear for change to occur.

The subsidy regime, he said, “favoured corrupt Nigerians at the expense of the poor the policy was meant to protect.”

From Nollywood came support for the Buhari administration on the new fuel price.

In his reaction, Asso­ciation of Movie Produc­ers (AMP) President, Ralph Nwadike pleaded for understanding from Nigerians.

He said: “My brother, it is not easy but we pray it gets better. I believe this government is doing its best to alleviate the situation. We can only pray it gets better. As I speak with you, I am on my way to a petrol sta­tion to see if I can get fuel to power my gen­erator tonight (Wednes­day).”

President of the Ac­tors Guild of Nigeria (AGN),Emeka Ike, equally urged Nigeri­ans to “be patient with the current administra­tion. Good governance doesn’t come easy. We are going through very painful times but, let us give the Buhari adminis­tration the benefit of the doubt.

“They made a lot of fantastic promises dur­ing the elections, so, I believe things will even­tually get better but, government has a lot of work to do and there should be more infor­mation on what is really happening.

To Nigeria’s first fe­male minister of Indus­try and current Presi­dent of Lagos Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, (LCCI) Dr. Nike Akan­de, increase in price of petroleum product to N145 is “a welcome de­velopment provided the fuel will always be avail­able.”

The economist said there was no gain “in having to suffer to look for fuel for days and hav­ing to even buy it at an exorbitant amount…” She said “government should let the private sector be fully involved to ensure fuel is avail­able always.”