Vice President Yemi Osinbajo wrote a letter to Nigerians on Friday evening explaining why the subsidy placed on petrol was removed by the Federal Government on Wednesday, May 12.
This didn’t exactly go down well on social media.
Even though the vice president, in the letter titled, The fuel pricing debate: Our story, said that this is a foreign exchange, and not a fuel subsidy, problem, the netizens simply took it to another level.
It started like this.
I have read the various observations about the fuel pricing regime and the attendant issues generated.
— Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (@ProfOsinbajo) May 13, 2016
The most important issue of course is how to shield the poor from the worst effects of the policy. I will address this in another note.
— Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (@ProfOsinbajo) May 13, 2016
Permit me to explain the policy.
— Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (@ProfOsinbajo) May 13, 2016
Then this happened.
https://twitter.com/Olutos/status/731179511639879680
https://twitter.com/Olutos/status/731178974383079424
https://twitter.com/loudwistle/status/731177286435672064
https://twitter.com/NerdyDreamzz/status/731176232105152512
Even if you dont defend the cause of your actions when you do what is right. The truth always defend itself.
— Oluwatimilehin Ojemakinde (@CEOTimiAfrica) May 13, 2016
so unfortunate that d present govt cannot provide palliative to cushion d effects of deregulation of downstream sector
— Official UD ™❁ (@UdokaKristian) May 13, 2016
@ProfOsinbajo pic.twitter.com/KpfrgMYVnu
— Dr. Darmee (@orediipe) May 13, 2016
@ProfOsinbajo pic.twitter.com/MxTeiQAkUr
— Dr. Darmee (@orediipe) May 13, 2016
we are quick to forget what happened yesterday… Have we started refining our own fuel? What justifies 145/ltr?
— Dr. Darmee (@orediipe) May 13, 2016
https://twitter.com/iLoovMusic/status/731186984228667397
with due respect sir, I don't think "notes" no matter how beautifully crafted will be sufficient without the right policies
— Aghogho F. Okpako, Esq. (@OkpakoFergus) May 13, 2016
the poor only need good roads, railways and mass transit buses. Don't create another loophole for fantastic corruption.
— John Okiyi Kalu (@Johnokiyikalu) May 13, 2016
remember the Bible says when righteous rules people rejoice but reverse is the case,u subjected Nigerians in to serious agony
— Julius Adeleke Taiwo (@JuliusAdelekeT1) May 13, 2016
True talk. However, Nigerians are suffering and need assurance that govt actually cares. That's d point of subsidy
— John Ogunsemore (@SignorJohn) May 13, 2016
removing subsidy is not the problem the problem is what is in place for the masses because right now transport has increase
— 💪🏻 XPLUS 🐉 $MON | $RCADE ၊||၊ DeSpeed ၊||၊ (@IamSirRichie) May 13, 2016
https://twitter.com/cemonii/status/731183562112798720
https://twitter.com/twittumyno/status/731190348115025920
Our target is that by the 4th Quarter of 2018, we should be producing 70% of our fuel needs locally.
— Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (@ProfOsinbajo) May 13, 2016
fake & political promises again.Fulfil ur Manifesto first-Pastor
— Oscar Chinedu (@chinedu69367982) May 13, 2016
all this big English is taking us no where!
— Kenny🫡💪🏾💙💙💙 (@iamkennychem) May 13, 2016
Sir, my question still is, why also increase the price of locally refined petrol since we don't need Forex to buy it?.
— Obi Ezenwugo (@ObiEzenwugo) May 13, 2016
https://twitter.com/Elite_79/status/731181366570848256
https://twitter.com/iamkingade/status/731183770905260032
it's not about generating money from fuel alone… I know this is a political gesture with no consideration for the people…
— Dr. Darmee (@orediipe) May 13, 2016
make power stable and let government run more transport service with improve rail system and let see if people won't be happy
— Dr. Darmee (@orediipe) May 13, 2016
: The only thing we will kick in 2019 is football and at the stadium. Lol
— Shuaib Babatunde (@chooaeb) May 13, 2016
This is therefore not a subsidy removal issue but a foreign exchange problem, in the face of dwindling earnings.
— Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (@ProfOsinbajo) May 13, 2016
https://twitter.com/irepvivian/status/731195451286913027
