ast administrations in Nigeria could not muster the courage to deal with fuel subsidy, Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed has said.

The governor said: "The issue of fuel subsidy is an issue which should have been dealt with a long time ago by past administrations. But they refused to take the courage of letting Nigerians know that we are not supposed to subsidise consumption, but we are to subsidise production. Because it is only production that can be regenerative and create employment and put food on the table, give us electricity and make us sleep at night with our two eyes closed. 

"The issue in Nigeria is that we have found ourselves subsidising consumption. Unfortunately, we have allowed it to degenerate to this level. As Nigerians, we have a right to good life, security, proper education and proper health care delivery."

Ahmed spoke yesterday in Ilorin, the state capital, when he addressed scores of anti-fuel subsidy removal protesters in front of the Government House.

The protesters, including women, youths and students, were led to the Government House by the Coordinator of Labour and civil society organisations (LASCO) in the state, Prof Poju Akinyanju; the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) leaders, Comrades Umar Akanbi and Israel Adebisi.

Prof Akinyanju, on behalf of the protesters, presented a letter to Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed for onward transmission to President Goodluck Jonathan.

The governor said: "I salute your courage. Why I am saluting your courage is because we have taken time to look at the issue critically in Nigeria today. I agree totally with what you have said. Maybe our differences come in the mode in which the subsidy should have been removed.

"This thing has been on since the Shehu Shagari's time. We are today faced with critical problem as the removal of subsidy will create a major hardship for Nigerians. There is nowhere in the world where problems are being solved without dialogue."

Ahmed harped on the need for Nigerians to embrace dialogue in resolving the fuel subsidy removal logjam.

He said: "The solution to the problem today can only be achieved through dialogue. Labour and government must be ready to dialogue.

"Demonstration is a legitimate right but riot is not legitimate. Riot is taking the law into one's hands. Now that we have been able to show our grievances, those of us you have chosen will play our role by ensuring that your grievances are taken to the Presidency." 

Akanbi said President Jonathan has not demonstrated enough capacity to fight corruption. 

"If not, he would not be passing the pain of subsidy removal to Nigerians. The government of Nigeria knows those cabals who are benefitting from fuel subsidy, which we don't believe does not exist in the first instance," he said.

Adebisi said: "Even while we believe we should discuss, only one town hall meeting was held. Since January 1, we have been in trouble. Unfortunately, on January 1, when people were in their villages, the government unilaterally withdrew the subsidy."