Nigerians Hungry, Reduce Petrol Price, Kukah Tells APC

Catholic Bishop of Sokoto diocese, Matthew Kukah, has urged the All Progressives Congress (APC) to prevail on the federal government to reverse the recent hike in petrol price.

Speaking yesterday at the unveiling of the progressive institute (TPI), the tink-tank of the APC, Kukah said; “You have to find a way of reducing this price of fuel. Unless democracy is anchored on a sound foundation, we will be building on sand. I am concerned about the quality of democracy in Nigeria. We need to fix the problem with democracy in Nigeria.”

Kukah reminded the  APC-led government that Nigerians are hungry, and urged the government to cut down the prices of fuel to reduce suffering in the country.

According to the Catholic cleric, he had an encounter with a young lady at the last general election whom he asked which party she was supporting, her answer was, “I’m hungry”, hence the need to remind the government that all Nigerians were going through hardship.

“I am happy that the political leaders are here, and I want to say that Nigerians are hungry,” Kukah pleaded.

The bishop commended the APC for the initiative and assured that the Kukah Centre, a Nigeria-based policy research institute founded by him will partner with the Progressive Institute to promote scientific approach to politics and governance for Nigeria’s advancement.

The bishop commended the APC for the initiative and assured that the Kukah Centre, a Nigeria-based policy research institute founded by him will partner with the Progressive Institute to promote scientific approach to politics and governance for Nigeria’s advancement.

“I have always said that I am not a politician but I am political. I am not a member of the APC. If Labour Party invites me, I will go, if it is the PDP that invites me, I will also go.

“The institute will help the political leaders to change the rules of engagement. Once they are elected, spiritualists, ritualists will dictate their activities. I want to urge Nigerian politicians to move from marabouts to scientific approach to administering the country,” Kukah added.

President Bola Tinubu who was represented by the minister of agriculture and food security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, said his administration was committed to enhancing the power of Nigerians to freely make electoral choices.

The president charged the institute to swing into action to address the issue of ideology in the party.

“The ideal of the tink-tank and the intellectual resource centre of our great party is not only timely but strategic because there’s is need to change paradigm of engagements within the All Progressives Congress and the Nigerian people.

“The urgent need to build organic relationship with the Nigerian people, create and sustain all season APC voter education, designed to promote inclusiveness, honesty and empowerment.

We are committed to enhancing the power of Nigerians to freely make electoral choices.

APC national chairman, Dr Adullhahi Umar Ganduje, said the Institute will play the two major roles of the official policy think tank and intellectual resource centre of the party.