By Obiorah Anthony
The Deputy Chairman, Traditional Rulers Council, Anambra State and the Traditional Ruler of Okpuno, Igwe Sunday Okafor,has bemoaned the unplanned approach adopted by Federal Government in the controversial fuel subsidy removal in the country, describing it as less than deserved.
Igwe Okafor,
was speaking in his Palace in Okpuno ,while receiving in audience the State Director National Orientation Agency,(NOA),Awka, Sir Joseph Uchendu and his management team, who paid him an Advocacy visit in connection with the removal of the fuel subsidy by the Federal Government with a view to finding a lasting solution on how to cushion the negative effects of the subsidy removal on Nigerians.
The Monarch, who observed that the removal of the fuel subsidy has hiked the transport fare in Anambra State and others States in the country, maintained that the Federal Government would have constituted a joint committee comprising the officers of the Nigerian Labour Congress,Nigerian Trade Union ,representatives of the Federal Government and other critical stakeholders in petroleum industry ,in the Country, to come up with effective palliative measures for Nigerians before implementing the fuel subsidy removal.
He appealed to Nigerians to remain calm, reminding them that since they survived the dreaded covid -19 pandemic that they will also survive the pensive effects of the subsidy removal ,describing the condition Nigerians are in now as very unfortunate and painful ,adding that this condition needed urgent intervention by Nigerian Government at all levels to avoid its further escalation .
He stated that the cost of living in Nigeria today is very unbearable, hence the vicious hardship in the Country, calling on the Federal Government to work towards revamping the nation's abandoned oil refineries as well as come up within shortest possible time with measures that would put to a permanent stop the unabated hardship in the Country.
The highly respected Traditional father, also wondered why they Federal Government should consider increasing the salaries of elected political officers and the appointees in the Country ,while most Nigerians,especially the civil servants and the rural populace cannot boast of three square meal a day,describing it as inhuman and ungodly.
Earlier, the NOA State Director, Sir Joseph Uchendu, thanked the Traditional Ruler and his cabinet Chiefs for the honor accorded him and his team and pleaded with him and other traditional rulers in Anambra State to prevail on their subjects so that they would always lend their support to Government development programs in the Country, especially the current fuel subsidy removal.
While pleading with Nigerians to exercise patience with Government, the NOA State Director,reiterated that the essence of the fuel subsidy removal by the Federal Government in this perilous time was to fortify the nation's failing economy and as well save the country from further borrowing.
When the NOA State Director, Sir Uchendu, paid similar visit to the Traditional Ruler of Nnokwa Community in Idemili South Local Government Area, Igwe Emmanuel Ajamma ,he pleaded with the Traditional Rulers in Anambra State to assist NOA in persuading and sensitizing Nigerians to support the fuel subsidy removal by the Federal Government with a view to saving the nation from economic collapse.