Subsidy Removal: A Decision People Must Bear To Save Nigeria – President Tinubu

…Says, illegal order used to truncate democracy will no longer be tolerated  

BY VICTOR BUORO, ABUJA – President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has admitted that the decision he took for the removal of fuel subsidy will impose extra burden on the masses of the nation, saying however, that it was a decision the people must bear to save the country from going under.

Tinubu, who stated this in his Democracy Day address to the nation, said that he felt the pain of the people, adding however, that it was needed in order to take the people’s resources away from the stranglehold of a few unpatriotic elements.

This was as the President declared that the unnecessary illegal orders used to truncate or abridge democracy will no longer be tolerated.

Tinubu also said that the democracy that will yield right dividends to the people who are the shareholders means more than just freedom of choice and right to get people into elective offices.

According to him, it means social and economic justice for the people, adding that to the winner of June 12, democracy offers the best chance to fight and eliminate poverty which he christened his campaign manifesto, ‘Farewell to Poverty’ thirty years ago because he was convinced that there is nothing divine about poverty.

Tinubu said that poverty is a man-made problem that can be eliminated with clearly thought out social and economic policies, stressing that it was for this reason that, in his inauguration address on May 29, he gave effect to the decision taken by his predecessor-in-office to remove the fuel subsidy albatross and free up for collective use the much-needed resources, which had hitherto been pocketed by a few rich.

In the words of Tinubu; “Painfully, I have asked you, my compatriots, to sacrifice a little more for the survival of our country. For your trust and belief in us, I assure you that your sacrifice shall not be in vain.

“The government I lead will repay you through massive investment in transportation infrastructure, education, regular power supply, healthcare and other public utilities that will improve the quality of lives.

“On this year’s Democracy Day, I enjoin us all to rededicate ourselves to strengthening this form of government of free peoples that has been our guiding light these past 24 years.

“In particular, those of us who have been privileged to be elected into public offices at various levels in both the executive and legislative arms of government must recommit ourselves to offering selfless service to the people, and delivering concrete democracy dividends in accordance with our electoral promises.

“On my part and that of my administration, I pledge anew our commitment to diligently fulfilling every component of our electoral pact with the people – the ‘Renewed Hope’ agenda. We shall be faithful to truth. Faithful to equity. And faithful to justice. We shall exercise our authority and mandate to govern with fairness, respect for the rule of law, and commitment to always uphold the dignity of all our people,” he assured.