Peter Duru
09 January 2012, Sweetcrude, Markurdi – Commercial and business activities were Monday grounded by thousands of protesters who stormed the streets of Makurdi the Benue State capital to kick against the deregulation policy of the Federal Government and the increase of the pump price of fuel.
The placard carrying protesters made up of students, market women, civil society groups commercial vehicle and motorcycle operators, civil servants, business men and women poured out into the streets as early as 6:am rallying behind leadership of the organised labour led by the NLC State Chairman, Comrade Simon Anchaver who led the match.
They chanted anti government songs calling on the Presisent Goodluck Jonathan led adminsitartion to revert the pump price of fuel to N65 per litre in the interest of the suffering masses of the country.
Addressing the protesters intermittently as the match went on under the close watch of armed security operatives, Comrade Anchaver told the gathering that the time has come for all Nigerians to take their destiny in their hands.
He said while political office holders were living in flanbouyance the ordinary Nigerian was going through hardship and pains yet the government seemed unperturbed and insensitive hence the removal of the presumed subsidy to further impoverish the people; “We will resist it because we elected them into office and therefore, the will of the people will definitle prevail. Enough of this deceit”.
Also speaking, the Chairmen of ASUU, BSU and that of the Federal University of Agriculture Makurdi Comrades Ralph Amokaha and Celestine Aguoru respectively said the decision of the Federal Government to deregulate the down stream sector smarked of gross irresponsibility and a complete negation of the promises made to the electorate during electioneering.
“This is not what we bargained for when we elected them into office; we are being treated like slaves in our own country, it is too bad, wicked, dastardly, provocative, repugnant and unacceptable to the people of Nigeria”, they said angrily.
Others who spoke to the protesters includes leaders of various markets unions in the state, student leaders, leaders of Commercial vehicle and motorcycle operators and leaders of various groups in show of solidarity with the people.
