Naira, Fuel Scarcity: Group Suspends Planned Protest In Osun

Even as the scarcity of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and redesigned Naira notes persists, another Osun group, the Coalition of the Youths Voice Movement, has suspended its planned protest.

This was made known by the group in a statement jointly signed by its President and General Secretary, Adebisi Emmanuel Oluwaseun and Owolabi Hassan Olanrewaju, on Saturday in Osogbo.

The protest according to the group was to hold in Osogbo on Tuesday, February 14, 2023.

"Sequel to the newest update getting to us as a movement that is standing in the gap for the thousands of youths within Osun State, it is evident that the government of the day is very concerned about one of their major obligations (welfarism) to her citizens with the said action taken in the shortest period of time on curbing the madness of exorbitant prices and scarcity of fuel, scarcity of new naira notes, and the inconsistencies these issues have caused.

“We are therefore suspending any form of protest as the government showed the youth of the state its capacity by interceding on behalf of the masses to curb the above matter.

“We have been tagged many a time, but let it be resounding that what matters to the umbrella movement ‘Coalition of the Youth Voice Movement’ are things that concern the masses as they look to us as their intercessor.

“We are non-partisan as every representative belongs to several schools of thought, which make every decision-making process a collective concern, and as such, we shall continue to represent the masses and lend our voice as we believe a better Nigeria is possible.

“We appreciate the gesture and look forward to resolving future matters that might arise, especially with the youth wing in our dear Osun State.”

On Monday, February 6, 2023, that the Osun Civil Societies Organisations and another group; The People's Advocate had in a press conference called off a protest that was billed for same day.

In a press conference jointly addressed by Waheed Lawal, the Chairman of the Osun Civil Societies Organisations and Olowu Emmanuel, Publicity Secretary of The People's Advocate, President Muhammadu Buhari was described as inconsiderate and insensitive to the plight of the citizens.

Also, the Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Godwin Emefiele, was accused of playing hide-and-seek on the circulation of the redesigned Naira notes.

The duo while calling for an urgent address of the calamities warned that if action is not taken, violent protests may be triggered nationwide.

While demanding an end to fuel scarcity, they also called on President Buhari to be more sensitive to the plight of the people.

Also, the Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke has constituted a Petroleum Monitoring Committee with the Chief Of Staff to the state Governor, Kazeem Akinleye as Chairman.

The Petroleum Monitoring Committee in a press statement on Thursday however warned that any filling station caught diverting and hoarding Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) allocated to the state will face the full wrath of the law.

The committee found out that recent findings revealed that several tankers laden with PMS were allocated to Osun but these were not reflecting across the filling stations in the State.

The committee which placed on notice all owners of filling stations across that state added that it has commence physical monitoring exercise and it will not hesitate to invoke regulatory actions on those found wanting.