The group which described President Muhammad Buhari’s administration as a ‘failure’, lamented the recent increment in the petrol pump price, electricity tariff among others.
They also embarked on a nationwide peaceful protest against the dual increments at a time Nigerians were recovering from the COVID-19 induced hardship.
The group described the increment as the highest level of insensitivity and wickedness from President Muhammad Buhari-led APC government.
Speaking, the convener of JAF, Comrade Alfred Adegoke called on Nigerians to resist the increases in fuel price, electricity tariff and VAT, adding that if the President cannot reverse the price from the N160 to the N86.50 that the price was from 2012 to May 10, 2016, then he should voluntarily resign his position as the president.
Adegoke said Nigerians, especially Southwesterns were being deceived to vote for Buhari by the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) using the name of Late Obafemi Awolowo and Chief Bola Ige to lure them into believing their cause.
Adegoke said: “This struggle has just started. We must stop it. The president has said that petroleum is going to N300, are you prepared to pay that? If we accept that today, education will be more commercialised. Electricity, you can’t buy. House, you can’t buy. Food, you can’t buy. The government cannot provide water, houses or jobs. That is the mess we have been seeing. Irresponsible government all the time. We say no that this must end.
“We say no to all oppressive and exploitative governments. This struggle has just started. Power for the people. Power for the workers. Power for the students.”
“This Government has failed us. President Buhari should reverse the price of fuel from the N160 to the N86.50 that the price from 2012 to May 10, 2016, and if he knows he cannot reverse it then he should resign with immediate effect, Adegoke said.
Also Speaking, Comrade Waheed Lawal, Chairman Coalition for Civil Society in the state, called on labour unions such as NLC, TUC among others to declare a general strike and mass protest.
Lawal who educated people of the state on the need to join the struggle said they would continue to express their displeasure over the dual approval of new electricity tariff and increment in the pump price of petrol through demonstration.
He said “We can’t do this in isolation. TUC, NLC, they have not said anything. And we know the meaning of that silence. Silence has a meaning. If they don’t want their people to stamp them to death on the street, they have to come out now and issue a statement.