BY VINCENT UJUMADU

AWKA – THE Catholic Bishop of Nnewi Diocese in Anambra State, Most Revd Hilary Okeke, yesterday urged President Goodluck Jonathan to be cautious in taking decision on the planned removal of oil subsidy, arguing that the best thing to do was to allow the people decide on the matter.

The cleric told Vanguard that it was necessary to examine the issue critically since it was likely to have a ripple effect on the social and economic lives of the people.

His words: “It is not good for the President to remove the subsidy without the consent of the people. Let the planned removal go through intelligent discourse so that people should be given the opportunity to air their views and reach a consensus on the matter. If they agree that it should be removed, it will be obvious that the people accepted it.”

According to him, although the removal of the fuel subsidy may ultimately turn out to be a good thing, the nagging question is “whether it is the right thing to do in the present state of the nation’s groan under the burden of insecurity, poverty and disillusionment” .