Over 17 Niger Delta Groups, including the Niger Delta Youth Congress (NDYC), South-South Movement for Good Governance (SMG), the Urhobo Progressive Vanguard (UPV), Niger Delta Women for Change (NDWC), Cross River Youth Democratic Front (CRYDF), and 13 other groups, have expressed deep concern over what they described as “the recurring pattern of deception orchestrated by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in matters of critical national importance.”


In a joint statement issued by the leaders of the groups, they carpeted the independent oil marketers over immediate hiked in pump prices of petrol as soon as the subsidy removal was announced by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu “in order to sabotage the sincere efforts of the government.”


Those who signed the statement include Comrade Israel Uwejeyan, the National Coordinator of the Niger Delta Youth Congress (NDYC); Barr. Raymond Oporomo, the National President of South-South Movement for Good Governance; Comrade Efemena Esamagu, the President of Urhobo Progressive Vanguard; Mrs. Abigail Asibie, the National Coordinator of Niger Delta Women for Change; Comrade Julius Emaluji, the National President of the Cross River Youth Democratic Front, among others.


The groups keenly observed that “on numerous occasions, the NLC has deceived the public by creating an illusion of safeguarding their welfare, only to betray their trust by engaging in backdoor negotiations with the government, ultimately disregarding the plight of the suffering masses.”

Cautioning labour unions over their planned strike action against the removal of subsidy on petrol, the organisations said, “We emphatically caution the NLC that it can no longer deceive anyone after having stripped itself of credibility, public trust, and confidence.

“We urges Nigerians to be vigilant and reject the NLC’s attempts to drag them into a situation with uncertain outcomes it. We urge our compatriots not to fall for the gimmicks employed by the NLC, who seem to be taking advantage of the suffering of the masses for their selfish negotiations.

“The NLC must first and foremost provide a comprehensive explanation regarding its absence during the preparation, presentation, defense, and passage of the budget by the former President Muhammadu Buhari’s government and the 9th National Assembly, which did not include provisions for subsidy.

“It is disheartening to witness opportunistic actions being taken by the NLC only when it suits their agenda, rather than consistently advocating for the welfare of Nigerians”.

The groups called on Nigerians to hold the “independent oil marketers accountable for the drastic deterioration of petroleum prices, we vehemently condemn these acts of extortion by the independent marketers who hiked pump prices as soon as the subsidy removal was announced by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in order to sabotage the sincere efforts of the government.

“This inhumane act of wickedness and greed demonstrates a lack of regard for the already burdensome living conditions faced by the Nigerian people.

“Moreover, we are not ignorant of the fact that the removal of fuel subsidies has placed an additional financial burden on the Nigerian populace, particularly the most vulnerable segments of society.

“The sudden increase in fuel prices has had a ripple effect on the cost of transportation, food, and other essential commodities, further exacerbating the hardships faced by the people.

“Therefore, we urge the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to critically review the fuel price template provided by the NNPCL. By reducing the fuel price template, the government will be lessening the financial burden on the masses”.

In addition to addressing the immediate concern of the fuel price template, the group called on President Bola Tinubu “to prioritize finding a lasting solution to the inherited issues plaguing the petroleum sector. One crucial aspect that demands urgent attention is the state of the existing refineries.

“The continuous reliance on imported petroleum products has not only proven to be economically unsustainable but also undermines our national energy security.

“We implore President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to proffer a comprehensive and sustainable plan to revamp and rehabilitate the existing refineries within the coming months.

“This measure will not only reduce our dependence on imported petroleum products but also create job opportunities, foster local content development, and ultimately contribute to the economic growth and development of our nation.

“We urge all stakeholders to work together to build a nation where the welfare of the people is paramount and where the actions of all stakeholders align with the collective goal of a prosperous Nigeria”, they concluded.

The Coalition of Northern Groups is, as usual, worried by the growing uncertainties created by certain destabilizing forces in the country surrounding the May 2029 transition to a new administration elected through the democratic poll processes of February 2023.

We note that these concerns have been variously hinted at by the nation’s apex security organ, the Directorate of State Services (DSS), the Military high command and the Nigeria Police Force without visible proactive measures put in place to nip them.

CNG is also worried about reports that some top officials of the outgoing administration are planning to leave the country ahead of the handover, obviously in a bid to cover-up their serial misconduct in office and to avoid being called to account.

We are especially worried by reports that Godwin Emefiele who has held one of the most important offices in the country as Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria throughout all the years of Nigeria’s economic and financial turmoil, is among those planning to flee abroad.

OBSERVATIONS
The CNG observes that just recently, precisely on Monday, May 15, 2023, the Nigeria Police headquarters confirmed that plots to scuttle the May 29th official inauguration of the new administration of the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and governors at the state level are real.

We observe that earlier, on May 4 2023, the nation’s Military High Command also alerted on plans to scuttle the May 29 handover and warned the plotters to shelve the idea.

It specifically said its officers are on standby to forestall any unwanted happening in the country before, during and after the transition.

We observe also that two weeks earlier, the Defence Headquarters had raised the same alarm that some individuals are plotting with foreign collaborators to disrupt the May 29 inauguration and vowed to track them down.

We observe that much earlier, the Department of State Services (DSS) had confirmed a clandestine plot by some politicians to derail the handover and install an interim government in Nigeria.

The CNG has observed also that allegations are growing strong of Emefiele’s planned study leave abroad, presumably to escape Nigeria before the inauguration and avoid questions around alleged terrorism financing, other economic and financial misdemeanors and the introduction of the currency redesign policy in a bid to create obstacles for Tinubu during the presidential campaign which ended up in mass national suffering and confusion.

We also note some state governors represented by Mohammed Matawalle of Zamfara State have raised the alarm that the the alarm that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Chairman plans an unjust isolated probe of only outgoing governors while excluding the Federal Government functionaries and even the Presidency.

We also observe that the EFCC boss is making this vow without mention of scrutinizing the EFCC itself were recent reports made an embarrassing revelation of officers fighting to the point of death over recovered items in Sokoto.

OUR STAND
It is in view of these and other potential national threats and likely impediments to the smooth takeoff of the incoming administration, that the CNG declares the following definite positions:

ON PLOT AGAINST HANDOVER
1. To strongly repudiate, in all ramifications, any attempt by any individual or group, to bring about any situation that could lead to scuttling or in anyway postponing the scheduled handover of leadership to the new duly elected federal administration of Bola Tinubu and state governors on May 29.

2. To demand from the DSS urgent proactive action to checkmate the maneuvers of the perpetrators of the evil scheme and, most importantly, to trace and expose the extent of the plot, arrest and prosecute not only the executors of the plot, but its sponsors and all individuals or groups in anyway linked to it.

3. To invite the DSS to note that Nigerians would not be disposed to accepting situations deliberately caused by vested personal interests, under whatever guise, that potentially threaten destruction and collective mayhem, or bring about greater conflicts that could lead to mass killings and suffering of innocent people.

4. To demand that anybody or group found remotely involved with the financing, direct execution or concealing information on this sinister and diabolic scheme, be treated appropriately as a treasonable felon and enemy of the state and fellow citizens.

5. To hold it ridiculous and insane for people with dubious political interests should want to disrupt an otherwise peaceful and orderly democratic process even while candidates and parties directly involved with the process have opted for the path of honour by seeking redress in the court of law.

6. We repeat here, that on no account should Nigerians be expected to accept a replication of the unfolding deadly conflicts across African countries incited by powerful foreign interests.


ON FLEEING PLANS BY OFFICIALS
We demand that security agencies in the country including all the anti-graft agencies work in synergy and ensure that all critical office holders in the outgoing administration such as the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele did not sneak out of the country before May 29th.

We demand that when the present administration of President Muhammadu Buhari bows out of office all key office holders must be asked to clear themselves of all pending corruption and other allegations against them.

We insist, in particular, that the CBN governor must be made to give an account of his tenure to the incoming administration.
We demand that if any study leave has been approved for Emefiele or any other suspected official, it should be canceled in the interest of peaceful transfer of power, accountability and good governance.


ON EFCC
We reject the purported plan to limit the searchlight to only outgoing state governors and demand demand that the EFCC Chairman carries out a wholistic probe by extending the beam on the Presidency, Federal Government ministries, parastatals and cabinet members of the outgoing administration.


We also demand a thorough search into allegations against the EFCC itself as well as the disabling volume of debt amassed for the country by the outgoing administration.
Thank you


Abdul-Azeez Suleiman,
CNG Spokesperson