By SIMON EBEGBULEM

BENIN CITY – YOUTHS in Edo State and other stakeholders in the state, have urged President Goodluck Jonathan not to disappoint the people of the South South by ensuring that the funds accruing to government as a result of the removal of fuel subsidy were used to build refineries and other facilities as promised.

The youths, who spoke in Benin City, weekend, at a town hall meeting on Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme, SURE, noted that Nigerians reacted through protest when the subsidy was removed due to the negative experiences of past governments.

The youths under the aegis of Youth Organisation of Nigeria, YON; Muslim Youths, Christian Youths Organisation and students from tertiary institutions in the state, noted that President Jonathan was sincere in reforming the oil sector but that a cabal in the North was bent on frustrating his efforts through activities of the Boko Haram sect.

Former deputy governor of Edo State, Mr. Lucky Imasuen and Edos Ebomoyi, who are members of the Subsidy Reinvestment Committee from the state, said President Jonathan decided to remove the subsidy on January 1, after he discovered that the Nigerian economy was at the brink of collapse.