Prominent religious leader Apostle John Okoriko, hailing from Akwa Ibom State, has expressed his confidence that Nigerians will overcome the current hardships resulting from President Ahmed Tinubu’s removal of petrol subsidy.
Speaking to journalists in Uyo, Okoriko urged the citizens to maintain hope, as he believes that the subsidy removal will have a positive impact on the economy. Vanguard reported.
He emphasized that consumers of kerosene and cooking gas have already adjusted to the prices of these products after the subsidy was removed a few years ago. However, he expressed concern about the issue of crude oil theft and implicated top government officials as being involved in such illicit activities.
In his own words, Okoriko stated, “Since they removed subsidy on kerosene and diesel, the country did not collapse; it is still functioning. The people are surviving. So, I am confident that Nigerians will also soon overcome the challenges they are currently facing due to the removal of fuel subsidy. In due course, they will be able to purchase the product without complaint.”
He further elaborated on the perception of excessive noise surrounding the fuel subsidy removal, attributing it to the presence of prominent oil thieves within the government. Okoriko emphasized that oil theft is an act of economic sabotage that should concern everyone.
When asked about his belief in the potential for the removal of fuel subsidy to improve Nigeria’s economy, the religious leader responded, “For now, nobody knows or can accurately predict how soon it will happen, but we should maintain our hope.”
