by S’ola Filani
The Federal Government on Sunday announced a reduction in the pump price of petrol by N10 from N97 to N87 per litre.
The Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, announced the reduction while briefing State House correspondents at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Alison-Madueke said the reduction, which took immediate effect, was because of the recent drastic fall in the prices of crude oil in the international market.
Are Nigerians happy about this development?
We monitored reactions on the blogosphere and social media platforms, and found that the action caused a division amongst President Goodluck Jonathan supporters and his opponents.
A Twitter user, Oluwitchy wrote “Last minute reduction in fuel price just as the election draws closer, another failed campaign strategy. Nigerians are more wiser now. Pls GEJ should go, NIGERIANS are not so dull like your Ancestors. Don’t Bribe us with #10 Fuel reduction Price. We need change.”
A fast rising comedian, Larrie Peniel tweeted: “If you like bring fuel price down to the old rate of N65 and visit Chibok, Baga and Maiduguri; the hour of Change. cometh. Too Late”
Popular activist and Twitter influencer, Japheth Omojuwa is indifferent.
“Why is Madam Diezani making a price reduction announcement like she is doing Nigerians a favour? Is it a favour if we deserve better? We can’t continue to live from one election to the other, we must learn to demand accountability from government AT ALL TIMES! Our greatest mistake as a people is to continue to look out for a new government that’d save us when we should get the current one to work. Nigerians have been crying for CHANGE & now Madam Diezani has given them N10 change. But what if your change is N50, will you collect N10?”
Olu Kayode, a user on the social platform, Nairaland said “Why 28 days before the election? He takes Nigerians for fools, why should we praise him when other world leaders reduced the price months ago.”
While Nigga4Life wrote: “What stops it from going back to at least 67Naira? The price of crude oil has fallen half of its price and all the FG could do was to reduce it by 10Naira? what difference does that make?”
Dazzling Smile, a public commenter on Punch portal wrote “Jonathan has never and will never be sincere, for the past 4 years he never visited Maiduguri until the last minute to the election the same with the reduction of fuel price. This is what he ought to have done longtime ago, as a responsible leader you don’t have to play politics with issues like this. My fellow Nigerians i want you to PLEASE get your voters card, this is the only way we can put an end to this clueless and irresponsible government. VOTE FOR CHANGE“
In a swift reaction, another commenter, Efe Bruno said “All over the world, pump prices are being reduced owing to slump in crude oil prices. Peoples in countries the reduction took place hail their leaders. But some of you kick on your president for reducing the pump price. The thanks of donkeys are kicks.
Many of you kick because you have already made-up mind due to a parochial motive for rooting for Buhari, not that u love the man, not that u believe Buhari is going to put the country in a better route.
All many of you bank on is who is succeeding old Buhari whom you calculate shall stay short in office. But your calculations shall fail you.”
