Two Catholic Archbishops have condemned the recent hike in petrol and electricity tariffs, reminding President Buhari of his promises to better the lives of citizens.
The Archbishops who were at the maiden General assembly of the Catholic archdiocese of Abuja stated the hike in petrol and electricity tariffs will drag more Nigerians into abject poverty.
The Herald on Wednesday reported that Petroleum Products Marketing Company (PPMC) announced an increase in Petrol price from N148 to N151.56
The increment prompted oil marketers to raise the price saying petrol will now be sold between N158 and N162 per litre.
Reacting to the news, Archbishops Ignatius Kaigama and John Onaiyekan appealed earnestly with the President to reverse the increment as it would have adverse effect on Nigerians who are barely trying to survive after the harsh economic impact of COVID-19.
Kaigama said: “I can only beg on behalf of the poor and the needy that government should have mercy on us. We are at the grassroots and I meet people who are really poor and in need and with all these increases, it makes life more intolerable.
“As a priest, I can only pray that God will do something for the poor and the needy but God doesn’t operate in a vacuum; He uses our leaders, the president, the governors and local government chairmen. I know they can do something.
“Let them just look at the poor and the needy with the eyes of mercy and strategise. There is a way out, they can be helped.
“As a witness, people are in agony and are suffering. The government is their father; the government is their leader. Let them do something.”
Former Archbishop Onaiyekan in the same vein claimed it was sad that the President would implement policies that contradicted his sweet promises of making lives easier for Nigerians.
Onaiyekan said: “Mr. President, in the same breath, was telling us he was going to do all he can to make life easier for Nigerians and one of the things he can do is those increases,” he said.
“Fuel price increase and electricity tariff increase should be put in a wider context. We wouldn’t be complaining about fuel price increase if the salaries were also increased.
“The problem comes when you leave the people with nothing to eat. I don’t think the government is supposed to be doing that. They should find a way to make life liveable for Nigerians.”