Nigerian youthshave advised President Goodluck Jonathan to tread softly on the plan to increase the pomp price of fuel in Nigeria by means of subsidy removal on petroleum product, stating that the action could set Nigeria ablaze.The youth under the aegis of National Youths Council of Nigeria advised the government not to set a rigid date for its plan to remove the subsidy, but should rather weigh available options as a compelling alternative.Vowing to resist the plan by the government, the youth said the government should start taking positive steps towards fighting corruption among public officials both at the federal and state levels, stressing that the amount being looted on a daily basis by these officials were sufficient enough to cushion the subsidy.Already, the youth have started mobilising for hunger strike which is to hold on November 11, this year at Unity Fountain besides Transcorp Hilton, Abuja even as they have opened points of contact on Facebook and Twitter to that effect.They noted that fuel subsidy removal without curbing the rapacious and corrupt instincts of some of government officials, including ministers, heads of parastatals, state governors and local government chairmen would yield no positive results.In a statement signed by the association's National President, Olawale Ajani and made available to the Nigerian Tribune, the youth said they had scheduled a hunger strike to dissuade the government from proceeding on its action, following which they would mobilise across Nigeria to protest the fuel subsidy removal.The statement read, 'given the accounts by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Code of Conduct Bureau, government officials no longer pay attention to accountability, while they freely engage in looting, running into billions at the expense of innocent, hardworking and ever hopeful Nigerians.'From the accounts by the EFCC, ICPC and others, ex-governors, ministers and heads of government agencies are billionaires without any known tangible personal businesses.'The Youths asked President Jonathan to be wary of advise from his aides meant to force hardship on Nigerians through the planned subsidy removal even contrary to the initial promises he made to Nigerians on giving the citizens good lease of life.'Our dear President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR had earlier promised, 'As a democracy, we are constantly reminded that we serve the people only at their pleasure. Thus, when the people feel strongly about an issue, we have had to thread the path of caution and return to drawing board of consultation'The statement by the youths read in part, 'Why will government set an irrevocable terminal date of January 2012 for the total removal of this so-called fuel subsidy' Why must it happen next year' Why can't they put the necessary infrastructures in place; modern day refineries that can at least refine the fuel needed by Nigerians in before thinking of the removal of the subsidy''They said when they remove the subsidy they will set up committee of eminent Nigerians to manage it.Why can't they set up the committee now to manage the subsidy''It is a common saying that problem known is half solved, unlike Nigeria situation with our rulers, Problem known is to be suffered by every Nigerians except them. They said subsidy goes to the hand of few cabals, they can not mention the names of these cabal, if any. Rather the Government is so weak and ineffective to checkmate the ''cabals' so they want us to pay for it'What is the reasonable justification behind the removal of fuel subsidy while there is excess crude account' Can the Government be trusted at all' Where is the Good governance they promised''Where is the adequate security for all that they promised' What have they practically done to fight corruption, what happen to the widely call for special court to handle economic and financial crimes' What have they done with the recovered loot from Abacha, Tafa Balogun and others.
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