Police disperse Kaduna protesters, activists schedule 'mother of all rallies' for Saturday….Lokoja-Abuja road blocked, Melaye, others released
Newsdiaryonline  Tue Jan 3,2011

Melaye

The Ocupy Nigeria protest at the Murtala Square, Kaduna against the withdrawal of fuel subsidy  was today dispersed by the police  .But the Occupy Nigeria group  said it had successfully registered residents for what it termed“mother of all rallies”, scheduled for Saturday in the metropolis.

Tajudeen Oladoja,  the Coordinator said “the youths of Nigeria are all here under the auspices of an NGO Occupy Nigeria.

“The group here is devoid of any political, religious or ethnic colouration and we are here in our thousands to frontally attack the act of illegality which the President he has committed by unjustly and unlawfully removing the fuel subsidy which has brought untold hardship on Nigerians.

“It is a policy that should not be allowed to stay; a policy that we are going to fight with the last blood in our body.   

“We have registered our names in thousands and we are working to stage the mother of all rallies at Murtala Square here in Kaduna on Friday and nobody under this planet can stop us.

“We will not give in; we are not going to be violent; but we will achieve our aim. But the police want to make it rough. You can see they want to take that guy. Please don’t allow them to take him away.

“We would not allow them to take him away. Our position is that we must return to status quo, we have to return to where we were before now which is N65  for PMS. Anything other than that will not be acceptable to us.”

Also a  Kaduna-based lawyer, Yahaya Mahmood, (SAN) while  reacting to the subsidy removal, said that Nigerians should not be allowed to suffer untold hardship for the inefficiency and greed of a few Nigerians. “All those who followed the debates and argument for and against are convinced that the removal of the subsidy  is   the government’s best option for three reasons. First, Nigerians shouldn’t be made to suffer for few individuals and body’s inefficiency and greed.

“Secondly, with our level of poverty and unemployment the increase will compound security challenges. Thirdly, the government has not done anything to cushion the effects – 100 per cent increase in price of fuel means 100 per cent rise in the price of goods and services.

“Finally to avoid problems for the Federal Government and the country two things should be considered. Reduce the increase to maximum of N80 naira per litre and cut allowances of political office holders and reduce unnecessary expenditure and wastages.

“Nigerians should pray. With security challenges (attack and killing of Muslims in Jos on Sallah day and bombing of churches in Madalla on Christmas day) Federal Government shouldn't risk Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC)/Trade Union Council (TUC) strike which can be taken over by hoodlums and those with hidden Agenda. Remember the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) is on strike”.

In his reaction, a former Chairman of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) in Kaduna state, Aliyu Umaru described the 'Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Board' headed by Dr. Christopher Kolade is an illegal executive contraption.

In his words, “such a Board with immense powers can only be established by means of an Act passed by the National Assembly.

“It is also provided under Section 5(1)(a) of the Constitution of Nigeria, 1999 that the executive powers of the Federation "shall be vested in the President and may, subject to....the provisions of any law made by the National Assembly, be exercised by him either directly or through the Vice-President and Ministers of the Government of the Federation or officers in the public service of the Federation."

Earlier today  reports  said protesters blocked the Lokoja-Abuja road bringing traffic to a halt for at least four hours.Security men reportedly battled to bring the Lokoja situation under control.

Also former Lawmaker, Dino Melaye and some activists who were arrested and detained among hardened criminals in Abuja were released today.Melaye said he along  with  fellow activists will not give up in the struggle against the removal of fuel subsidy.