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Even as the current fuel scarcity continues to bite harder across the country, the two major political parties are blaming each other for the ugly situation.
The PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation on Monday attributed the scarcity to the APC, which it accused of infiltrating the ranks of the fuel marketers to induce the scarcity
The Organisation’s Director of Media and Publicity, Femi Fani-Kayode, that the fuel marketers had taken what it described as a sub-contract from the opposition to frustrate supplies to filling stations as part of a grand plan to create tension in the polity.
The statement read in part, “We know who the fuel marketers are. We know the relationship that exists between one of the biggest fuel marketers and a national leader of the APC.
“These unconscionable opposition elements infiltrated the ranks of the fuel marketers, whom they have contracted, in a calculated attempt to frustrate the good efforts of government.
“Why have they taken this time when all hands are on deck for the March 28 elections to cause this artificial fuel scarcity? The situation is so bad that they are not importing the product.
“They are even threatening tank farmers not to release any fuel in their depot in order to sustain the shortage. We are aware that the tank farmers have reported the threat to the Police and other security agencies.
“The PDPPCO wishes to use this medium to alert the nation on the lingering plot by the opposition elements, who have been sponsoring their agents of destruction in the power sector to vandalise critical infrastructure in order to reduce the megawatts of electricity that is being generated and reverse the gains that government is making in the sector.”
Just before Fani-Kayode’s statement, the PDP National chairman, Adamu Muazu, had in a series of tweets, said:
“Concerned Nigerians have drawn our attention to the fact that some opposition leaders and vested interests are behind hoarding of fuel.
“Concerned Nigerians also drew our attention to plans by those who control the South-West disco to sabotage electricity in the zone.
“We assure Nigerians, they will fail. All their plans to tarnish the image of the government will fail like all other previous attempts.We want to assure concerned Nigerians, especially all of you here on social media that we will reverse this trend soonest.”
Reacting, the APC spokesman, Lai Mohammed said in an email message:
“It is totally unconscionable, and indeed an admission of failure for a sitting government and a ruling party to blame the opposition for their failings.
“These guys have simply abdicated their responsibility to the people. They can as well throw in the towel and head for home.
“The questions to ask are: who runs the NNPC? Who pays subsidy to fuel marketers? Who has used federal resources to bribe individuals and groups to such a level that there is no money to run the government, let alone paying subsidies?
“The moment a ruling party starts transferring its responsibilities to the opposition, it is clear that the market is over.”