PDP, APC lock horns over hike in petrol pump price, electricity tariff

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) have disagreed over the increment of petrol price and electricity tariff.

While new electricity tariff was implemented on Monday, pump price of petrol was increased  on Wednesday.

In a statement, Kola Ologbondiyan, PDP spokesman, described the increment as “callous, cruel and punishing”.

Ologbondiyan demanded that the increment be reversed to avert “a national crisis”, adding that the developments would “worsen the biting hardship being faced by Nigerians.”

“Our party asserts that by increasing the price of fuel from the N87 per litre it sold under the PDP to an excruciating N151 while at the same time allowing the hike in electricity tariff from N30.23 per kwh to over N66, the APC has left no one in doubt that its agenda is to inflict pain and hardship on Nigerians to satisfy their selfish interests,” the PDP spokesman said.

“The unjustifiable increase in the price of these essential supplies, coming barely a week after the APC brazenly posted a support for fuel price hike, while attempting to rationalize the excruciating hardship being suffered by Nigerians under the Buhari administration, has further confirmed that the APC is at the center of the harsh policies of the Buhari presidency.”

Ologbondiyan said the APC-led federal government has failed to allow an investigation into allegations of fuel price “overcharge and fraudulent subsidy regime through which over N14 trillion.”

“Our fear is that the APC is pushing Nigerians to the wall with its obnoxious and anti-people proclivities and we caution that nobody should misinterpret the peaceful and law-abiding nature of Nigerians as a sign of weakness,” he said.

But responding, the ruling party said the new pricing template reflects “competitive and market driven components which is supported by the citizenry.”

The APC asked the opposition party to “cajole its cronies” to return petrol subsidy funds allegedly looted by its cronies.

“Under the President Muhammadu Buhari administration,” Yekini Nabena, APC deputy spokesman, said in a statement.

“The tortuous fuel queues as a result of biting scarcities are gone. The reviewed petroleum products pricing template has resulted in a more transparent, efficient and realistic pricing system for petroleum products and also resulted in constant availability of fuel nationwide.

“In an effort by this administration to put an end to estimated and arbitrary billing for electricity, President Buhari recently directed a nationwide mass metering programme for electricity consumers in the country.

“For the PDP that is only concerned with pushing the interests of its few cronies over the general interest and welfare of the citizenry, we don’t expect the PDP to grasp the import of this landmark presidential directive which aside improving electricity and service delivery, is also protecting the poor and vulnerable Nigerians from increased electricity tariff and arbitrary/estimated billings.”

The ruling party asked the PDP to wake up to the new Nigeria where the government “works for the citizens not a few interests”.