The Allied People’s Movement has raised concerns over recent comments by Governor Monday Okpebholo on his controversial claim that Nigerians should not complain about rising fuel prices.
Mr Okpebholo, defending the high cost of petrol, which had surged past N1,500 per litre, argued that Nigerians should not complain because fuel is cheaper than the average N3,000 per litre cost in the United Kingdom.
The party condemned the remarks as ‘callous’ and a brutal assault on citizens, arguing that the comparison completely ignored stark disparities in national purchasing power.
“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 more than £2,636 (N4.6 million) monthly compared to the paltry N70,000 monthly minimum wage earned by their peers in Nigeria,” APM said in a statement by its spokesman, Abubakar Yusuf, on Sunday.
The party restated that an analysis of fuel costs should factor in broader economic indicators, including domestic purchasing power and average monthly incomes, to reflect the financial pressures facing citizens fully.
Furthermore, the party cautioned against policy statements that could heighten public anxiety during a period of economic adjustment. They called for greater sensitivity from public officeholders when discussing matters that directly affect household budgets.
“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 the equivalent of N41 to N52 per litre,” the party noted.
The party encouraged the public to stay engaged and look to the upcoming electoral cycle as a constructive avenue to address national economic challenges and shape future governance priorities.
“We, therefore, urge Nigerians to remain steadfast as they rally to forge a new beginning for our nation on the platform of the APM,” it added.
(NAN)