By Emma AMAIZE and Akpokona OMAFUAIRE
WARRI- NIGER Delta activist, Comrade Paul Bebenimibo, weekend, said the support for President Goodluck Jonathan by the masses was waning across the country because of his planned removal of petroleum subsidy and non-fulfillment of his electoral promises.

Bebenimibo, who described the planned removal of the fuel subsidy as a betrayal of the confidence of the masses and an indication of gross failure by the government, urged President Jonathan not to succumb to the anti-masses agenda.

His words, “The masses’ support for Jonathan is dwindling because the electoral promises are not forthcoming, but are veering to a harsh economic hardship. Jonathan should listen only to the masses to avoid chaos and total collapse of support for his government. He should not listen to crooks and the business people who are only after profit to the detriment of the masses.”

“The issue of fuel subsidy was at its peak before President Yar’Adua died, Jonathan came and stabilised the price of petroleum products, and that was why the masses loved him and voted for him. To remove the subsidy now will be a total disservice to the masses and making money available for the governors and the private businessmen who do not have the interest of the masses at heart. It is taking Nigeria back and it will make nonsense of the minimum wage which they just implemented, as cost of living will skyrocket,” he added.

Bebenimibo argued that the problem with Nigeria is not really a lack of funds, but improper utilisation of available funds, pointing out that huge sums of money have been appropriated for various projects with nothing tangible to show. The activist cited the Benin-Ore and the East-West roads, which have gulped several billions of naira but remained impassable.

He, therefore, urged the National Assembly not to yield to the temptation of removing the fuel subsidy if the members were really representing the peoples’ interest.