ADC’s Owokoniran Slams Ex-Gov Fayemi: Atiku Not Playing Politics With Fuel Subsidy Restoration That’ll Relieve Nigerians Of APC’s Suffering
Hon. Rahman Owokoniran, a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the South West and Convener of the Frontliners Movement, Lagos State, has slammed former Governor Kayode Fayemi’s dismissal of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar’s proposal to restore fuel subsidy as merely a political gimmick.
Owokoniran, speaking in an interview on Wednesday, said Nigerians were facing serious economic hardships that deserved practical solutions that would improve their dwindling welfare under the battered economy of the country.
He said: “It would have been brilliant for former Governor Fayemi to provide an alternative solution that is not only unpolitical but also a solution to the problems we are facing today.
“Alhaji Atiku offered his well-researched views on the way out of the economic mess of this administration. Dr. Fayemi’s objective view on this issue will be highly appreciated instead of him to mouth words without any context.
“The question at hand is how we get out of the quagmire before the ship sinks under the APC’s maladministration. It’s certain that the policies of this government since taking over in 2015 had chosen the same poverty trajectory and unfortunately it is not working or producing a desirable result for the people of this nation.
“They can’t give what they don’t have, therefore they need to accept their handicap and stop shifting blame on anyone. Whether Atiku’s proposal is political or not, Nigeria needs to get out of this economic disaster, move forward the country and make it great again.
“To be clear, Atiku’s proposal is far beyond Fayemi’s imagination. The proposal is simply to support domestic refining, reduce energy and production costs and restore purchasing power. Its merits far supersede Fayemi’s jaundiced imagination of a return back to the old subsidy system. Moreover, Atiku’s policy direction is not far-fetched since the political will and the experience to deliver the results are clear in his mind.”
Owokoniran reiterated that fuel affected everything in Nigeria, including transportation, food prices, farming, manufacturing and the cost of doing business.
The former Lagos Commissioner offered: “If we can reduce energy costs through responsible support for local production, Nigerians will feel the impact across the economy.
“Fayemi rejected Atiku’s proposal simply on the APC propaganda that it was politically motivated. He needs the excuse to face the charges of the failure of the APC administration in the last three years of the directionless subsidy removal scheme.
“A policy should be judged by its results, not by those who proposed it. Let us examine the cost benefit, funding, and safeguards to Nigerians. If it can reduce hardship and strengthen local production, then it deserves serious consideration.”
Owokoniran maintained that Nigeria needed an economic approach that combined reform with compassion, fiscal responsibility and economic growth, as well as a strong commitment by both the government and the people.
He said: “Nigerians are not asking for too much from the government.
They want affordable healthcare, good living standards, efficient commuting services, job opportunities, efficient security systems and affordable housing for the poor.
“These requests cannot be too much to ask in a country.
“Atiku’s proposal offers a well conceived solution that will make life more enjoyable and less expensive for people to live comfortably in good health and prosperity.
“With Atiku and Amaechi the Nigeria we desire is possible.”
