APC responsible for petrol scarcity, PDP alleges

The Peoples Democratic Party Presidential Campaign Organisation (PDPPCO) has attributed the sudden fuel scarcity in many parts of the country to sabotage by the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), “which has infiltrated the ranks of the fuel marketers”.

In a statement released in Abuja, Femi Fani-Kayode, director of media and publicity of the PDPPCO, said the fuel marketers have taken a sub-contract from the opposition to frustrate supplies of petrol to fuel stations as part of a grand plan to create tension in the polity.

“We know who the fuel marketers are. We know the relationship that exists between one of the biggest fuel marketers and a national leader of the APC. These unconscionable opposition elements infiltrated the ranks of the fuel marketers, whom they have contracted, in a calculated attempt to frustrate the good efforts of government,” he said.

“Why have they taken this time when all hands are on deck for the March 28 election to cause this artificial fuel scarcity? The situation is so bad that they are not importing the product. They are even threatening tank farmers not to release any fuel in their depot in order to sustain the shortage. We are aware that the tank farmers have reported the threat to the police and other security agencies.

“This shows how desperate and wicked the opposition APC can be in their quest for presidential power. Must they make Nigerians suffer simply because they want to rule? They must desist from this act of sabotage.”

“The opposition should not take delight in celebrating over the pains and sufferings of Nigerians as they have continued to do with the Boko Haram attacks on our people and nation.

He urged all well-meaning Nigerians to condemn APC’s penchant to diminish the gallantry of the armed forces in the battle to defeat insurgency in the northeast zone whilst mocking the government whenever the insurgents bomb and take over villages in the zone.

“This predilection exposes and portrays the APC and its leaders as forces of retrogression with a devilish mindset to unleash the worst form of anarchy on the nation before, during and after the March 28 presidential election because they know their party and presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari, will be dealt a crushing blow by President Goodluck Jonathan at the polls.

“The PDPPCO also wishes to use this medium to alert the nation on the lingering plot by the opposition elements who have been sponsoring their agents of destruction in the power sector to vandalise critical infrastructure in order to reduce the megawatts of electricity that is being generated and reverse the gains that government is making in the sector.”

Adamu Muazu, PDP chairman, also spoke in similar vein, alleging that the opposition was hoarding fuel in order to foster scarcity.

“Concerned Nigerians have drawn our attention to the fact that some opposition leaders and vested interest are behind hoarding of fuel,” he wrote via Twitter.

He went on to say that the opposition leaders who control electricity Distribution Companies (DISCOs) are in the business of sabotaging the availability of electricity.

“Concerned Nigerians also drew our attention to plans by those who control the south-west Disco to sabotage electricity in the zone,” he added.

“We assure Nigerians, they will fail. All their plans to tarnish the image of government will fail like all other previous attempts.”

He promised that the federal government would change the trend and combat the scarcity and shortage as soon as possible.

“We want to assure concerned Nigerians, especially all of you here on social media, that we will reverse this trend soonest.”

The APC Presidential Campaign Organisation (APCPCO) initially blamed the scarcity on PDP and the federal government, tagging it a sad reminder of the failure of the ruling party.