By OLAYINKA LATONA & EBERE ONUORAH

LAGOS – CATHOLIC Archbishop of Lagos Metropolitan Archdiocese, Anthony Cardinal Olubunmi Okogie, has asked President Goodluck Jonathan not to  hearken to the advice of a few to hike petrol prices.

Okogie spoke, yesterday, through the Catholic Bishop of the Diocese of Abeokuta, Most Rev. Adewale Martins, at a Pontifical Concelebrated Thanksgiving Mass to mark the silver jubilee celebration of Blessed Father Tansi at Holy Family Catholic Church, Festac Town, Lagos.

The Cardinal said Federal Government must do a rethink on its plan to remove fuel subsidy, emphasising that such a move at this critical period of the nation’s political evolution will further impoverish the masses and lead to hyper-inflation.

Okogie stressed that an increase in oil prices would have a spiral effect on other sections of the economy and Nigerians, especially the poor  who will suffer more.

He noted that fuel subsidy was a shift from President Jonathan’s  desire to raise the living standard of the people, warning of the disastrous consequences of fuel subsidy removal if not properly handled.

Okogie, who  argued that the proposal will inflict untold suffering on the people, noted that at present Nigerians lacked basic amenities that will make life comfortable for them.

He urged the government to enhance the living standard of Nigerians by allowing them to enjoy their God-given natural endowments.

He said: “Concerning the removal of fuel subsidy, I pray that God should direct our leaders to take decisions that will be favourable for the people and ameliorate their poverty. At present, we are all aware of the  insecurity in the nation, there is unemployment, lack of good healthcare facilities to the extent that many Nigerians are now going to India for treatment.”

…Cleric urges more enlightenment

By Daniel Alfred

BADAGRY – Assistant General Superintendent of Assemblies of God Church, Reverend Chidi Okoroafor, has urged the Federal Government to enlighten the masses more on why it wants to remove fuel subsidy.

Rev. Okoroafor, at the first anniversary and convention of its Badagry District Church, weekend, in Okokomaiko, Lagos, said if eventually subsidy is removed, government should use the funds to provide good roads and infrastructure nationwide.

He said:“You need to put on the shoes of leadership before taking up the role as a leader. If subsidy is removed, then there will be a hike in prices of petroleum products and that will raise the price of goods and services, meaning that there will be a big problem for the poor.

”However, the government should consider the tomorrow in today’s decision. A lot of enlightenment should be done so that the masses will know about it.”