By Johnbosco Agbakwuru, Calabar
Deputy Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Interior, Daniel Asuquo has called on the Federal Government to present evidence that there is the existence of subsidy in the country.

Asuquo who made the call in an interview in Akamkpa, Cross River State said that President Goodluck Jonathan was on his own on the planned removal of fuel subsidy.

He said, in his opinion, “President Jonathan, as the head of the executive, has his own feelings. As far as I am concerned, the issue of subsidy removal is his opinion. He has the duty to convince the people’s representative, like myself, that subsidy should be removed.

“I am not saying that subsidy cannot be removed but what I am saying is that we do not have available data to prove that there is even subsidy in the first instance. When you say subsidy should be removed, first and foremost, let the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation come out with their hands clean.

“The PPRA should come out with the true statistics. We’ve had ministers of petroleum in this country who said the landing cost of petroleum products is N45, so what are we talking about subsidy?”

Yes, we need to do away with these cartels who are conniving with NNPC staff to fraudulently fleece this country this trillions we hear of.  I am most vexed, so, the issue of Jonathan saying he will remove subsidy, that is personal opinion”, he said.

Hon. Asuquo popularly known as Dansuku wondered why refineries in the country could not work while the Niger Republic has opened a refinery.

“I got the information some few days back that Niger Republic has opened a refinery and I wonder why ours are not functioning. Licenses were given to private investors to open refineries, yet none had kicked off and look at the huge money they claim they are spending on subsidy.

“Who collects this money and why don’t those mentioned as members of the so called cartel build their own refinery. Do not tell me that President Jonathan has given any January deadline; he does not have the power to sit alone and say there is no subsidy.  It is a collective decision”, he said.