Primate Elijah Ayodele, the Leader Of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, delivered a warning to President Muhammadu Buhari against the proposed fuel subsidy removal.
A few days ago, the Finance Minister, Zainab Ahmed, revealed that the federal government would remove fuel subsidy.
According to Ahmed, it will be replaced with a monthly N5,000 transport grant to about 40 million poor Nigerians, with 2022 being the deadline.
However, in a statement released by his media aide, Osho Oluwatosin, Primate Ayodele warned the government to withhold plans to remove fuel subsidy in the interest of the poor masses because a lot of things will be affected by it.
He made it known that the Nigerian economy isn’t in good shape at the moment and removing subsidy at a critical economic situation will cause more damage than good for the Nigerian economy.
He noted that some banks, companies will be affected and that the debt profile of the country will keep on increasing unless the government swings into action.
Furthermore, he warned President Buhari not to be carried away by wrong advice because it would lead his government to nowhere.
‘’The removal of fuel subsidies at a time like this is not advisable because the economy of Nigeria isn’t in good shape. Already, the people are faced with enough hardship and removal of fuel subsidy will only worsen the situation.
‘’When the report came up last week that the government will be replacing subsidy with N5,000 transportation grant for 40 million poor Nigerians, I smiled because that plan is not sustainable, there is no provision for it in the 2022 budget, then what’s the plan?’’
‘’I have said it before that I foresee a massive protest against hunger which will involve everyone in the country, the government doesn’t have to wait till this happens, that’s why I warned them ahead, but the path they are toiling right now is moving towards the direction of the protest. They have gotten it wrong and a time will come when political leaders will regret their positions because there will be attacks against them from everywhere by those who elected them.
‘’I advise the federal government to hold on with the plans to remove subsidy for the sake of the masses and for peace to reign in the country. If not, there will be an uprising,’’ he said.
