29th
September, 2021
PRESS RELEASE:
UK FUEL CRISIS : TIME TO APPRECIATE BUHARI - MURIC
An Islamic human rights organisation, the Muslim
Rights Concern (MURIC) has described the ongoing fuel crisis in the United
Kingdom as an opportunity for Nigerians to appreciate President Muhammadu
Buhari whose administration has registered near zero fuel queues in the six
years of his administration.
MURIC’s observation came on Wednesday, 29th
September, 2021, via a press statement issued by its director and founder,
Professor Ishaq Akintola.
The statement reads:
“Britain has been enmeshed in fuel shortages
resulting in long queues at petrol stations in the past two weeks. Of a total
of 8,000 filling stations in Britain, up to two-thirds of 5,500 fuel stations
have run out of supply. The British army has been put on red alert to intervene
while the government of Boris Johnson has offered temporary visas to 5,000 foreign
fuel tanker drivers. Britain holds its breath and trembles.
“The development has triggered socio-economic
crisis in Britain. There are food shortages, street brawls, particularly at
petrol stations. The fuel queus last for hours. In addition, the government is
considering the closure of schools. (https://www.news.com.au/finance/economy/world-economy/hourslong-fuel-queues-food-shortages-brawls-in-the-streets-and-possible-school-closures-the-united-kingdom-in-crisis/news-story/4a1b05f241364faa35f8b0fac0f59496).
“The situation has sparked chaos and panic. Consequence upon this, Britain’s
three giant petrol companies, Shell, Texaco and British Petroleum have imposed
a buying limit of 30 British pounds (https://punchng.com/uk-fuel-crisis-texaco-others-impose-30-purchase-limit-to-ensure-access/).
Rationing is also being considered by other petrol companies. There are fears
that doctors, teachers and other workers may not be able to get to work (https://www.cnbc.com/2021/09/28/panic-buying-of-fuel-in-uk-sparks-fears-doctors-teachers-wont-get-to-work.html).
“In sharp
contrast, MURIC recalls that the long queues which used to last hours and which
forced many Nigerians to sleep at petrol stations for three or more days have
not been experienced since President Muhammadu Buhari took over in May 2015. This
is a verifiable and unassailable fact.
“Nigerians must give it to Buhari. It is necessary
to appreciate this administration particularly with regards to the absence of
fuel queues if we want to be sincere. Mass amnesia may be one of our worst
weaknesses but the records speak loud and clear.
“Nigeria: Obasanjo Begs on Fuel Scarcity’ was the
bold and embarrassing headline of a popular print newspaper of 19th
September, 2000 (https://allafrica.com/stories/200009190010.html). Obasanjo’s
efforts at nipping the fuel crisis in the bud could only scratch the sufface.
“In 2009 the Yaradua administration blamed
saboteurs for fuel shortages and long queues but found no solution for it (https://guardian.ng/news/nigeria/national/govt-blames-saboteurs-for-fuel-scarcity/).
Ex-President Goodluck Jonathan inherited this quagmire but nibbled at it for
six years.
“Fuel crisis in Jonathan days induced unprecedented
nationwide protest in the year 2012 (https://www.reuters.com/article/ozatp-nigeria-strike-20120110-idAFJOE80900A20120110)
and no solution was found between that time and 2015. It led a leading online
newspaper to declare that fuel queues grounded Nigeria while Ex-President
Jonathan ‘snored away’ (https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/183627-fuel-crisis-nigeria-grounded-as-jonathan-govt-snores-away.html).
“The implication of the above pieces of evidence
is that Buhari was the leader who found solution to the problem of fuel
scarcity that plagued Nigeria for decades and proved elusive under three
Nigerian presidents. At the risk of being labelled as sycophants, we place the
facts before honest Nigerians. We reiterate that posterity will remember Buhari
as the Father of Modern Nigeria”
Professor Ishaq
Akintola,
Director,
Muslim Rights
Concern (MURIC)
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