An All Progressive Congress (APC) chieftain, Hon Buraimoh Peter Folajimi has urged Nigerians to be patient amidst the ongoing economic challenges faced by Nigerians which was exacerbated by the withdrawal of fuel subsidy by the President Bola Tinubu-led APC government.
Speaking during a press conference in Abuja yesterday, Buraimoh said continuing with the subsidy would only delay a potentially worse situation in the future.
“When we had the subsidy, we did not fully benefit from it, and some suggested measures have already been implemented.
“The removal of fuel subsidy will come with some pains. In fact, a good number of needed policy changes will come with some pains.
“I believe a fight for the people is not just about their immediate comfort but more about their sustainable prosperity,” Buraimoh said.
“The recent fuel increase has caused hardships for Nigerians, but with perseverance, we can expect positive changes in the next six months.
“The truth is that the fuel subsidy misadventure was profiting the rich, the politically connected, and even worse, our regional neighbors and smugglers who enjoyed opulent returns at the expense of the citizenry,” he added.
On the Nigeria Labour Congress(NLC,); Trade Union Congress (TUC) and other Civil Society organizations’ protests across the country, “Buraimoh said: “We must support the government’s efforts for the dividends of democracy to be delivered successfully.
“So my message to NLC and TUC is that If there is any need for a call to action, it should be for the judicious and accountable use of the funds that would otherwise have been used to subsidize fuel.
“We can’t be complaining about a deficit of social infrastructure and amenities as well as low wages for civil servants and at the same time be opposed to efforts to improve the quality and availability of the same”.
