Fuel hike: Imo monarch plans protest at NASS

By Ighoavodha Alice

FOLLOWING reports of increase in
pump price of petrol, a traditional ruler, Eze Desmond Ogugua of Eziudo in Ezinihitte Mbaise Local Government Area, in Imo State, said he would demonstrate against the increase to the national assembly.
Ogugua who spoke at his palace yesterday, added that states should be allowed to establish refineries.
He said: “Nigeria crying over shortage of fuel is unfortunate. Shame to the leadership. Why
can’t states establish their own refineries? How can they think that three refineries can serve Nigeria with millions of people?
“If the government is sincere, they should allow states to own their own refineries. I remember when David West was the minister of
petroleum, he invited me to his office in Lagos.
“I challenge the minister of petroleum and the NNPC to tell the country why we should have three refineries in Nigeria. I am begging
President Buhari, the Senate President, Bukola Saraki and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara to look into the petition I wrote to them. If not, I will lead a self protest to the National Assembly.
“K. O. Mbadiwe, Chief A. K Hart, Obafemi Owolowo and myself Eze Desmond Ogugua,among others should be appreciated for letting this country know the secret of how
many barrels of oil produced daily in Nigeria”.
The Imo monarch recalled that, “the people who worked for the interest of this countrynwere not appreciated. It is on record that without us, Nigeria might not have established the NNPC.”
Nigeria government got facts from us.
“Why should we stay in this country and start to cry for petroleum. And this happens, during the festivals, Christmas, that was when wensuffer for scarcity of petroleum.
“In the Southeast region, we can float over twenty refineries, because we have individuals who can build a refinery. New Jersey in United States of America, have over one hundred and thirty refineries.
“Enough is Enough Nigeria. This matter, I brought it up when Buhari, was minster of petroleum, that was when he visited Washington.”