Subsidy removal: Conference of speakers chairman urges Jonathan to stop plan

THE Acting National CaretakerCommittee chairman of the conference of Speakers of the state House of Assemblies, Alhaji Abdullahi Falgore, has pleaded with President Goodluck Jonathan to suspend the plan to remove fuel subsidy.The chairman, who made the disclosure in Dutse, Jigawa State capital, before the commencement of the 21st Northern Speakers Forum held on Sunday, said 'this is my personal view. It is not the conference's decision.'Alhaji Falgore, who is also the speaker of the Kano State House of Assembly, maintained that total removal of the subsidy would make the elected to lose trust and confidence of the electorate.The chairman pointed out that it was the masses that voted the office holders that would be at the receiving end if the fuel subsidy was removed, adding that 'personally, I would have wished the Federal Government to tackle this subsidy with care and sympathy, considering the peasants that elected us into various offices.'The peasants have confidence in us and believe that we will protect their interests.'Several governments have tried to lift the subsidy, especially on the petroleum. I would have loved the Federal Government to continue with reasonable increase on these products instead of this absolute removal of the subsidy.'He said most of the previous increase in the prices of petroleum products had resulted in face-offs with the organised labour unions, leading to weeks of strike for which the common man had always suffered the most.The speaker said the absolute removal of the subsidy in one full swoop would jeopardise peace and progress, as it would have a chain effect on other essential services.He said the re-election of the governor of Kano State, Rabiu Kwak-wanso, was by the masses that did so because of his antecedents of diligence and plans to transform the state.
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