Subsidy protest: 11 rights groups drag Jonathan to ICC

Eleven human rights groups have dragged President Goodluck Jonathan before the International Criminal Court, ICC, over alleged killings of no fewer than 35 Nigerians by security agencies in the on-going protest against subsidy removal by the Nigerian government.

qHuman Rights Agenda Nigeria Network, HRAN and 10 other groups in the petition by HRAN chair, Mr Chino Obiagwu, want Prosecutor Moreno-Ocampo of ICC, to open a preliminary examination of these alleged violations and to investigate and prosecute any international crime against the statute that might have been committed.

According to the petition, “on January 1, President Goodluck Jonathan’s government announced an official 120 per cent increase in the price of petrol. On January 9, 2012, the labour unions and civil society organisations, including HRAN and its affiliate groups, started nationwide peaceful legitimate protests in opposition to the increase.

“The protests are continuing across the country, and the armed troops are still on the streets shooting and killing protesters.

All appeals by opposition politicians, labour and civil society leaders for government to withdraw live lethal weapon from its officials were rebuffed. “HRAN and its affiliate groups are concerned that more killings of protesters will occur in coming days and urge you to urgently open preliminary examination of these killings, and where any crime under the Rome Statute of the ICC has been found to have possibly been committed, to hold President Jonathan and his security officials involved personally accountable.

Groups which co-signed the petition are Centre for Democracy and Development, Civil Resource Development and Documentation Centre-Nigeria, CLEEN Foundation, HEDA Resource Centre, Human Rights Monitor, Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, Legal Defence & Assistance Project, Legal Resources Consortium, Partnership for Justice and Society for Gender and Child Advancement.

Read More

Okonjo-Iweala Blames Govs For Subsidy Removal

The Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, has denied being the mastermind of the oil subsidy removal that has plunged the country into serious crisis for two days.

In a chat with the BBC World News early today, Dr. Ngozie Okonjo-Iweala, said that it was the state governors that demanded the removal of fuel subsidy, to increase their incomes, adding that the demand predates her appointment to office as minister of finance.

About two days ago, the minister had said that neither she nor the president, Goodluck Jonathan ever set an April date for the removal of fuel subsidy.

She accused those she referred to as mischief makers as the brain behind it. Her spirited denial follows the severe bashing she has received over the insincerity in announcing the policy on 1 January after she had earlier told Nigerians that the policy would take off in April.

The minister has come under severe criticism over the policy which is very unpopular to the Nigerian people though the Federal Government has maintained it is the only way forward if the nation’s economy is not to collapse.

She has been accused of attempting to introduce IMF and World Bank economic policies that have failed in other countries in Nigeria.

These policies some said are delibrate moves to make Nigerians perpetually poor so as to continue to be market for the west.

The announcement of the fuel subsidy removal has led to a general strike called by labour unions and civil society groups which has entered its second day.

In the first day of the strike, the country was brought to its knees as economic activities were completely paralysed nationwide. The airports and other government and private economic institutions were shut.

The people are angry over government’s insincerity and insensitivity in commencing such a harsh policy on a New Year day when people were supposed to be celebrating.

They also accused the government of not considering the effect of the policy on the poor masses of the country before embarking on it.

The people are also angry that the Federal Government that has not been courageous enough to punish a cartel that brought the country to this economic crisis is so quick to implement a policy that is capable of making the majority of Nigerians poorer.

On Sunday, the House of Representatives held an emergency sitting after which it asked the Federal Government to suspend the policy and embark on wider cosultations.

Read More

Protesters set vans ablaze, sought to set fire on CBN gov’s home

Police and protesters clashed in Nigeria’s north Monday as thousands converged on a governor’s office during nationwide fuel price strikes, leaving 30 wounded, including 18 who were shot.

Protesters set two vans ablaze and also sought to set fire to the home of central bank governor Lamido Sanusi in Kano, but were stopped by police.

A union leader also said police shot dead a protester in the commercial capital Lagos as thousands of people demonstrated there.

Police fired tear gas and shot into the air as thousands of protesters converged on the governor’s office in the northern city of Kano as part of a national strike over fuel prices.

A huge crowd of protesters had gathered in Kano, the main city and clashes broke out with police who pushed them back as they tried to enter the governor’s office, an AFP correspondent reported.

Protesters set two vans ablaze and also sought to set fire to the home of central bank governor Lamido Sanusi in Kano, but were stopped by police.

“In total, we have 30 wounded, 18 of them with gunshot wounds,” said Red Cross official in Kano Musa Abdullahi, updating an earlier toll of 14 wounded, half of them shot

Read More

This is why we must fight fuel subsidy in all cost....

Nigeria will be great again, whether these leaders like it or not...

Read More

Nigeria Fuel Subsidy Removal – The Photos You Must See!

The removal of the fuel subsidy by the Nigerian Federal Government is affecting (almost) each and every Nigerian.

We say almost because while majority of Nigerians will struggle to meet ends meet with this 100%+ increase in fuel prices, our politicians continue to live decadent lifestyles as evidenced by the 2012 budget.

Read More