In a strongly-worded statement issued on Tuesday, the Osun State Government criticized President Bola Tinubu’s decision to remove fuel subsidy, describing it as an inhumane and wicked act. The government also issued a stern warning, threatening to seal any filling station within the state caught hoarding fuel with the intent to cause suffering among the masses.
Governor Ademola Nurudeen Jackson Adeleke’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, conveyed the government’s position in the statement, denouncing the removal of subsidy as unpatriotic. Rasheed expressed deep concern over the deliberate hoarding of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) by fuel dealers in the state, attributing their actions to the President’s inaugural speech.
“The attention of the Osun State Government has been drawn to the deliberate hoarding of PMS by the fuel dealers within the State as a result of the statement from the Inaugural Speech of the new President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on the removal of fuel subsidy, thereby causing unnecessary hardship for the people in the State,” the statement read.
Describing the actions of the fuel dealers as inhumane and unpatriotic, the government emphasized that such behavior would not be tolerated. To address the issue, Governor Adeleke has established a Special Monitoring Team on fuel scarcity, led by the Chief of Staff, Hon Kazeem Akinleye, which will work in collaboration with law enforcement agencies and other stakeholders.
Effective immediately, on May 30, 2023, the committee will initiate a comprehensive monitoring operation of all filling stations across the state. The objective is to identify fuel stations engaging in hoarding practices to create artificial scarcity. Once identified, these stations will be sealed off, and the operators will face prosecution for the crime of economic sabotage.
The Osun State Government’s firm stance against the hoarding of fuel and the intention to exacerbate the suffering of the people underscores its commitment to ensuring the well-being and welfare of its citizens. The government urges all fuel dealers in the state to act responsibly and refrain from engaging in actions that negatively impact the lives of the populace.
As the situation unfolds, the government remains steadfast in its resolve to address the challenges posed by the removal of fuel subsidy, while safeguarding the interests and rights of its citizens. The Special Monitoring Team is expected to actively enforce compliance among fuel dealers and bring any offenders to justice, in collaboration with relevant law enforcement agencies.
The Osun State Government calls for cooperation from all stakeholders, including the public, in identifying fuel stations involved in hoarding activities. Together, it is believed that this unified effort will ensure the availability of fuel at fair prices and alleviate the unnecessary hardships faced by the people of Osun State in the wake of the removal of fuel subsidy.
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