Fuel Price: Okpebhole’s Comment Reckless, Irresponsible – APM

The Allied People’s Movement (APM) has described as reckless and irresponsible, the statement credited to Edo State governor, Monday Okpebhole, that Nigerians should not complain about the N1,500 cost for a litre of fuel, because according to him, it is cheaper than an average N3000 per liter cost in the United Kingdom.

APM in a statement by the National Publicity Secretary Abubakar Yusuf, said such comment is assault on Nigerians.

The party drew Governor Okpebholo’s attention to the per capita income and purchasing power of an average Nigerian in comparison to that of a British citizen.

“It is to say the least callous for a state governor to attempt to benchmark petrol price in Nigeria with that of the UK where the purchasing power of an average wage earner is over £2,636 (N4.6 million) monthly compared to the paltry N70,000 monthly minimum wage earned by their peers in Nigeria,” APM stated.

It also noted that while an average school teacher in Nigeria earns N70,000 or less, his counterpart in the UK takes a monthly starting salary of about £2,839 (N4.9 million).

According to the party, while an average Nigerian wage earner is subjected to an informal, chaotic, heavily and expensive public transportation, the public transport system in the United Kingdom is structured, highly regulated, and heavily subsidised by the British government for the benefit of citizens.

“What Governor Okpebholo failed to tell Nigerians is the fact that in other oil producing countries such as Libya and even Iran, which is presently at war, petrol is sold at an average of equivalent of N41 to N52 per liter.

“It is therefore completely irrational and highly provocative for APC Governor Okpebholo to attempt compare the situation in the UK to that of Nigeria.

“Such comment from a governor is capable of triggering a widespread protest and breakdown of law and order across the country,” APM added.

The party however told Nigerians that the 2027 presidential election affords them the opportunity “to vote in a humane, transparent, people-based and efficient leadership as embodied,” in its pesidential candidate, Engr. Seyi Makinde.

“Under a Makinde/Daura presidency and our Reset Agenda, the interest and wellbeing of all Nigerians will be the top priority of government.

“Nigerians do not deserve this level of intolerable suffering that the APC-led administration has subjected them to given the enormous resources at the disposal of the government,” APM stated.