Petrol, electricity deregulation: PDP, Atiku’s stance hypocritical ― APC

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has faulted recent criticisms trailing the hike in the price of petroleum and electricity tariff by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its former presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

The APC in a statement by its national publicity secretary, Yekini Nabena recalled that the PDP and Atiku Abubakar advocated for full deregulation of the oil and gas sector during its campaign in the last general elections.

The ruling party also maintained that the erstwhile ruling party sustained subsidy in the sector to patronise a faceless cartel.

The statement read in part: “Judging from its background as a party that instituted the very corrupt subsidy regime in the petrol sector, the PDP lacks the moral credentials to question an honest and transparent move by the Buhari-led administration to find lasting solutions to the problems caused by the party in the years that it led the affairs of the country.

Describing the deregulation of the price of petrol by the APC-led government as callous and cruel is rather sarcastic and tongue-in-cheek, given the pain and anguish suffered by Nigerians on long queues at petrol stations when the PDP-led government presided over a very corrupt subsidy regime.

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It is therefore laughable that the same set of people will turn around and condemn decisions taken to fix the mess they created in the system. The PDP’s outburst indeed exposes once again its real fraudulent character and plot to patronize Nigerians and make them suffer in perpetuity by keeping a fraudulent subsidy arrangement that feeds a few individuals at the expense of the masses.

“Judging from the foregoing, the PDP, Atiku Abubakar, and comments attributed to them should not be taken seriously as they simply lack the decency required to guide Nigeria and Nigerians to the path of prosperity and progress.

“Compared to PDP’s failed past, under the President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC administration, the reviewed petroleum products pricing template has resulted in a more transparent, efficient and realistic pricing system for petroleum products and also resulted in a constant availability of fuel nationwide.

In line with the drive to deregulate the oil sector, the petroleum products pricing template now reflects competitive and market-driven components which have, in turn, freed up cash to fund the ongoing development of critical infrastructure across the country.”

NIGERIAN TRIBUNE