The  Illegal, Insensitive And Provocative Withdrawal Of Fuel Subsidy-Keyamo
Posted Thur Jan 5,2012

Keyamo 

I left for the United States for a two-week  holiday on the 27th of December, 2011, completely unaware that the federal government would suddenly withdraw petrol subsidy on the 1st of January, 2012. I wish I stayed behind to be part of this early protests against this satanic move by the federal government. But  I will be back in a few days to be a part of any subsequent protests.

The sudden withdrawal of the subsidy is nothing but a complete  disservice to the masses of our great country. this is because in any given situation the primary function of government is to protect the weak from the powerful; to protect the defenceless many from the powerful few; to protect the poor from the manipulative tendencies of the rich. that is why the concept of government arose in the first place from Thomas Hobbe's state of nature. any economic theory that does not promote these principles is a bad economic theory. By removing the subsidy on petroleum products government has shirked these responsibilities and has thrown the masses to the dogs. We are now in the state of nature in the petroleum sector.

By its own arguments about the 'powerful few' in the petroleum sector that take undue advantage of subsidy to enrich themselves, government has finally admitted that it cannot confront these individuals, tackle the corruption in the sector and bring them to book. Instead government has decided to turn the barrel of its gun on the defenceless masses and to pour its venom on them via the removal of the subsidy.

This decision is callous, it is wicked and insensitive. I call on all Nigerians to resist this policy and continue to insist that government properly plays its role of managing the subsidy program to eliminate waste and check corruption in the system. We cannot suffer for the ineptitude of the government. That is what the removal of subsidy is all about. We have a right to protest peacefully and we should continue to do so until this policy is reversed.

On my part I am asking anybody with credible information and evidence as to the corruption in the petroleum sector to come forward with them so that I can proceed to court to ask for the right of private prosecution to bring them to justice. We cannot fold our arms and wait for the thief to catch the thief.

Thank You 

Festus Keyamo, Esq.

Houston, Texas, Tuesday, January 3, 2012