The Coalition of South East Youth Leaders (COSEYL) has called on the Nigerian Labour Congress(NLC), the Trade Union Congress(TUC), businessmen and women and all Nigerians students in the country to come out enmasse for a protest march against President Bola Tinubu over the recent hike in fuel prices.
In a statement issued on Wednesday in Owerri, which was jointly endorsed by the president general Goodluck Ibem, and the publicity secretary, Okey Nwaoru, the group said it is time to liberate the citizens from the oppressors.
The group called on citizens to march on the streets of all 36 states of the country including the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, to demand a return to the the old pump price of N198 per litre.
COSEYL expressed their disappointment over the new fuel price hike from N520 to N617 describing it as gross insensitivity and wickedness of the highest order.
According to them, the recent fuel price hike has proved beyond every reasonable doubt that the previous fuel price increment from N198 to N520 was not a result of subsidy removal, “but it is a well-calculated attempt to impoverish Nigerians so that they will not have the energy and strength to challenge the federal government in whatever way”.
The group further argued that before former president Muhammadu Buhari handed over to President Bola Tinubu, fuel was sold for N198 in fuel stations and upon assumption of office of President Tinubu unilaterally increased it from N198 to N520 and N550 depending on the state.
They said that while Nigerians were still battling with hardship to settle with the previous price of N520, President Tinubu, within two months in office, increased the price of fuel to N617.
They described the act as unfortunate adding that “a few people in Aso Rock are eating and enjoying while the majority of the Nigerian citizens suffer and die in abject poverty in the midst of plenty and abundant natural mineral resources.”
