…Nigerians can’t afford N1,500 per litre, party says
The Allied Peoples Movement (APM) has called on Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, to resign over his comment comparing the price of petrol in Nigeria with its cost in the United Kingdom.
The party said Nigerians could not afford petrol at N1,500 per litre, arguing that the governor’s attempt to justify the current pump price by citing a higher price in the UK failed to take into account the wide disparity in income and purchasing power between Nigerians and Britons.
The APM made its position known in Abuja on Sunday through its National Publicity Secretary, Mr Abubakar Yusuf, who condemned the continued increase in the price of petrol under the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led All Progressives Congress (APC) administration.
Yusuf said it was uncaring for Okpebholo to tell Nigerians not to complain about the N1,500 per litre price because petrol costs about N3,000 per litre in the UK.
“Such a comparison is reckless and irresponsible because it ignores the purchasing power and income levels of the average Nigerian and British citizen,” the party stated.
The APM noted that the disparity was evident in the earnings of workers in both countries, adding that Nigerian workers earn substantially less than their counterparts in the UK.
It also faulted the comparison on the grounds that public transportation in the UK was more structured and regulated, whereas Nigerians largely rely on an expensive and poorly organised transport system.
The party further argued that Nigeria’s petrol price compared unfavourably with those of some other oil-producing countries, citing Libya and Iran as examples where petrol was sold at significantly lower prices.
Yusuf warned that attempts to justify further increases in the pump price could heighten public frustration and trigger protests.
The APM also expressed concern that the governor’s comment could be used to prepare the ground for another increase in petrol prices, urging Nigerians to remain vigilant against policies that would further raise the cost of living.
The party said the 2027 presidential election would provide Nigerians with an opportunity to choose a different direction for the country.
It added that its presidential candidate, Engr. Seyi Makinde, and his running mate, Alhaji Lawal Daura, would prioritise citizens’ welfare under the party’s Reset Agenda.
The APM urged Nigerians to support its platform, saying the country’s resources could be better managed to improve living standards and deliver more effective governance.
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