2023 Election: Fuel Subsidy – Keyamo Fights NLC For Endorsing Peter Obi

The Spokesperson for the All Progressives Congress Presidential (APC) Campaign Council, Festus Keyamo, has taken fight to the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) for endorsing Peter Obi, Labour party presidential candidate.

 

Newsonline reports that Keyamo said that by endorsing the former governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, as their preferred presidential candidate ahead of the 2023 election even when he has stated clearly that he would remove the fuel subsidy showed double standard.

 

The Minister of State for Labour and Employment argued that the leadership NLC that organized a protest against the All Progressives Congress (APC) led Federal government of President Muhammed Buhari on the 13 of September has turned to endorse a candidate who in several interviews said he would remove the same fuel subsidy.

 

The statement read, “We note that the leadership of the organized labour under the aegis of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Monday, September 13, 2022, at a national retreat of the Labour Party in Abuja, promised to mobilize its members across the 774 local government areas in Nigeria, to ensure victory for Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, in next year’s presidential election.

 

Keyamo argued further, “We also note that in several interviews he granted in the last few months and weeks, Obi has vowed to totally remove subsidy on petrol if elected President. We also note NLC’s long-standing opposition to total removal of fuel subsidy. Other left-leaning supporters of the Labour Party were also present at the event to cheer Obi.

 

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The former Minister of State for Niger Delta Affairs questioned the idea behind the sudden embrace of the campaign message of Peter Obi by the leadership of NLC when he has stated clearly that he would remove the fuel subsidy.

 

“Consequently, the following questions are urgently begging for answers by the leadership of the NLC. Before adopting Obi as its candidate, did the leadership of the NLC have a discussion with him on the issue of removal of fuel subsidy? If they did have that discussion, did Obi agree to back down on the issue of subsidy removal? Was that a basis for supporting him? If he did not back down on the issue, did the organised labour agree with him?” Keyamo stated.

 

The Minister of State for Labour, Productivity and Employment, noted that it would be reckless of the NLC to adopt a candidate without thoroughly interrogating him on his policies as they affect the Nigerian workers or the masses if no subsidy removal discussion is held.

 

“If the excuse is that Obi has said that the money saved will be used in other critical areas of the economy, how is that different from what the Buhari government is also saying?

 

“These questions have become necessary because Nigerians deserve to know whether organized labour’s adopted party, which is the Labour Party, supports and promotes a policy that the leadership of labour opposes in another breath when it is adopted by the government of the day. They cannot be blowing hot and cold.

 

“As our Council stands for issue-based campaigns, we call on all members of the 4th Estate of the Realm not to sweep this point under the carpet and to thoroughly interrogate the NLC and the Labour Party on the one hand; and the seemingly right-leaning supporters of the Labour Party and Mr. Peter Obi on the other, on this issue so that they will come clean before Nigerians,” he stated.