Chief Patrick Eholor, rights activist and President of the One Love Foundation, has charged the people of Edo State to stop patronising fuel dealers who sell their product above the stipulated federal government pump price.
“I am sending a message to all the people who own filling stations across Edo State that if the price is too high from those they call marketers who divert their product they shouldn’t purchase it because we are not willing to buy any product in Edo State beyond the stipulated pump price.
“If it is a difference of N10 it is understandable. Not buying a litre in the black market at N10,000 for 12 litres. You’re buying it for between N700 and N800 per litre.”
On his participation in a stakeholder meeting with the state government to find ways of quelling the recent protest march against the high cost of fuel in the state, the rights activist said: “The civil society protest was to let the government realise that the citizen has the right to protest and the CSO(Civil Society Organisations) are more like journalists who are the ones who put pressure on the government to do what’s right for the citizens.
“That was one of the reasons that prompted me to lead the protest because I don’t want what happened in ENDSARS to happen. I didn’t want some people who are very angry to take advantage of the situation to loot or burn our city or country because we have no other country.
“Talking about some people working in the government who have some gas stations and they’re doing it for self-interest. It is not a secret, Comrade Philip Shaibu (Edo State Deputy Governor) has a lot of filling stations. He has interest.”
Going further, he gave kudos to the Edo State Government, “Edo State Government acted promptly when they heard the voice of the CSOs. We must commend them for that, most especially the young Commissioner, Ethan Uzamere.”
