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| A Nigerian Petrol Station |
This
morning, President Goodluck Jonathan addressed the nation on the Fuel Subsidy
Regime (FSR). He focused on his agenda for the deregulation of the downstream
petroleum sector. The President accused Nigerians for their actions which he
said had caused “a disruption of economic activities”. He also alleged that “a
near-breakdown of law and order in certain parts of the country as a result of
the activities of some persons or groups of persons who took advantage of the
situation to further their narrow interests by engaging in acts of
intimidation, harassment and outright subversion of the Nigerian state”.
The
tone of the address was reminiscent of the era of military dictatorship when
political generals talked down to the people, warned them and threatened to
deal with them as if they were not citizens with rights and interests. The form
and substance of the address was to blackmail civil society and citizen groups
of having a regime change agenda. Protests and opposition to a policy agenda
unilaterally imposed by the President on the teeming millions of Nigerians
suffering from its effects were translated as enemy action that would be dealt
with the repressive apparatuses of the State.
We
note with consternation the military occupation of numerous sites in our towns
and cities by military tanks and hardware as if we are in war. Of concern
include the occupation of the military at Ojota (Gani Fawehimin Square)
Surulere, Maryland among others in Lagos; the Berger Roundabout and the Wuse II
intersect by ASCON Filling Station in Abuja; the Lugard House Roundabout in
Kaduna; and the nodule junctions in Kano; just to name a few. We recognize that
it is the constitutional prerogative of Mr. President to deploy the military
for internal security manoeuvres as the President, Commander-in-Chief of the
Armed Forces of Nigeria. However, we are quick to add that the implications are
very simple, that the responsibility for violations and abuse of the
fundamental human rights of citizens by the deployed military personnel lies
squarely at the purview of Dr. Goodluck Ebelle Jonathan, GCFR.
On
the issue of increase of fuel prices, he reaffirmed his position that his
government will “will continue to pursue full deregulation of the downstream
petroleum sector”, but will for the moment reduce the pump price of petrol to
N97 per litre. The Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) was
then directed to ensure compliance with this new pump price. The message of the
millions of Nigerians in all our cities, towns and villages protesting against
the policy is completely lost on the President. More importantly, the
democratic demand that unilateral action by the Executive on such a sensitive
issue is unacceptable has been ignored.
Our
coalition notes with concern the deliberate and concerted efforts of the FGN
aimed at the “divide and rule” of the larger civil society; and frown at the
systematic name-tagging of CSOs as security risk, which has been the ostensible
reason for government to reinforce militancy in the country. This is evident in
the fact that the leadership of the oil workers’ unions started receiving
threats from government-sponsored former militants after declaring their
intention to shut down oil production. The other evidence is the undue flooding
of the streets by military personnel this morning after the President’s speech,
as an effort to thwart the people’s right to peaceful protest.
We
condemn the narrowing of access to mainstream media, which have been coerced
into denying Nigerians a fair share of space as required by extant broadcast
regulatory frameworks. An orchestrated media campaign is being used to dehumanise
Nigerians as their rights to hold and express opinions have been violated,
especially by state broadcasters, the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) and
the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN). We equally note with concern
the purchase of airtime in the commercial private broadcasts stations by the
government to further the propaganda agenda of FGN. All these have reinforced
the use of alternate and social media by Nigerians to express themselves and canvass
their genuine demands. It is therefore disturbing that the Honourable Minister
for Information, Labaran Maku, has now found it necessary to complain about the
social media platforms being used by Nigerians in the face of the muscling and
narrowing of the traditional media.
The
political colouration and anti-opposition stance adopted by the government and
many media outfits is also deplorable. The public is being given an impression
that the participation of people with opposing views is inimical for our
democracy. Nothing is farther from the truth. As a people’s movement that is not
just made up of Labour or civil society, it is our belief that President
Jonathan’s attempt to decimate opposition voices is most unfortunate. This is
more so as the government is introducing ethno-religious dimensions to discussions,
with far-reaching implications for our national security. We alert Nigerians
that we are finding ourselves in the early stages of an authoritarian regime.
We are
appreciative of the move by the Federal Government of Nigeria, through the Honourable
Minister for Petroleum, to commence investigations into the series of payments
relating to “oil subsidy”. In addition, we acknowledge the willingness of the
FGN to now study and act on the KPMG Audit Report of the NNPC among others as
part of the renewed anticorruption drive by the GEJ Administration.
Furthermore, we note the announcement by the Executive arm of government to
liaise with the NASS for the expedited passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB).
Our concern remains that these laudable steps shall not be “Nigerianised” and
made to just placate Nigerians for the spur of the moment. We implore the
renewed EFCC to deepen the series of investigation beyond the cosmetic and
media blitz that have characterized the operations of the organisation. We are
convinced that the NASS shall live up to their Constitutional Responsibilities
and do a thorough job in this regard.
On
the NLC/TUC’s position calling of the strikes and protests against the removal
of subsidy, we state unequivocally that organised civil society groups and the
generality of Nigerian workers were not consulted before the Labour presidents
took their decisions. Our representatives to the negotiations were not
consulted before actions were taken. We do not support the position; we insist
on complete reversal before Nigerians will call off their agitations for
fairness and dignity.
Finally,
we note with concern the posture of international community who have watched as
President Goodluck Jonathan authorised the cold-blooded murder of 20 innocent,
unarmed, and nonviolent protesters and now neither the deployment of soldiers
onto the streets at a time when there is no insurrection nor threat of
invasion. We call on all organs of the African Union, the United Nations and
other world institutions that care about the spread of democracy to condemn
this increasing authoritarian disposition. President Jonathan must note that he
will be held liable any mishaps as a result of using the military for quelling
a civil protest.
Signed:
Dr. Jibrin Ibrahim
Director, Centre for Democracy and Development
Ayodeji Ajayeoba
President, United Action for Democracy
Ayisha Osori
Director, Advocates for Change and Social Justice
Dr. Otive Igbuzor
Executive Director, Centre LSD
Dr. Hussaini Abdu
Country Director, Action Aid Nigeria
Priscilla Achakpa
Women Environmental Programme
For and on Behalf of Nigeria
Civil Society, Building Leverage and Unity on Fuel Subsidy Struggle (BLUF)
16th January, 2012
