Hold APC Responsible For Fuel Scarcity, PDP Campaign Says

The Peoples Democratic Party Presidential Campaign Organisation on Monday attributed the sudden fuel scarcity in many parts of the country to alleged sabotage by the opposition All Progressives Congress, which it said had infiltrated the ranks of the fuel marketers.

Director of Media and Publicity of the PDPPCO, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, said in a statement in Abuja that the fuel marketers had taken what he described as a sub-contract from the opposition to frustrate supplies of petrol to fuel stations as part of a grand plan to create tension in the polity.

But the National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said it was an admission of failure for a sitting government to blame the opposition for its shortcomings, the PUNCH reports.

Fani-Kayode said, “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 election 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.”

He said the move showed how desperate and wicked the opposition could be in its quest for presidential power, asking if it must make Nigerians suffer simply because it wants to rule.

In an email sent to our correspondent on Monday, Mohammed said, “It is totally unconscionable, and indeed an admission of failure, for a sitting government and 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 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, not to talk of paying subsidies?

“The moment a ruling party starts transferring its responsibilities to the opposition, it is clear that the market is over.”