KEY POINTS

• As a goodwill gesture, Bode George urges Tinubu to reduce petrol price from N300/litre to N340/litre from December 15, 2024 to January 31, 2025.
• According to George, the reduction would reduce joy, lower the cost of goods and also improve the standard of living of Nigerians as it is the festive season.
• He lambasted the PDP’s internal crisis and urged party members to engage in a collective action to resolve the things pertaining to the PDP so that they can prepare for 2027 elections.

Former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Bode George, has urged President Bola Tinubu to reduce price of petrol to N300 per litre so as to lessen financial burden on Nigerians during the Christmas and New Year celebrations.

At a press conference in Lagos, George highlighted the festive season and that a reduction of fuel prices would help alleviate pressure on citizens.

He suggested that the reduction be carried out between December 15 and the end of January 2025, a time he called momentous for people of any faith or background.

Spread joy across Nigeria

The government has the ability to take the financial impact of the price cut, as for the sake of goodwill, George said. Such a move would also prove the government’s consideration for the electorate and will give rise to unity and hope throughout the nation, he said.

What am I suggesting, that by 15 or the middle of this month, if the president, Tinubu, really believes that these Nigerians voted him into power, then it’s time for him to return what they voted for,” George said.

“The important months are two months in a calendar year.” It’s common and it’s all over the world, no matter if you’re a Christian, a Muslim, an atheist or a traditionalist. Importantly, December and January are the months that matter the most.

“To ensure that the cost of petrol is reduced to N300 per litre from the beginning of this month at least to the end of January, ” he said. It could absorb losses, he said.

Festive relief for Nigerians

George said lowering the price of petrol during the festive season would lift the spirit of Nigerians and create joy in homes across the country. The reduction, he said, would have an impact beyond the price at the fuel pump, easing the cost of goods and services.

“This will be sending a lot of positive messages across the tributes and homes.” It will have an impact on this period of the year, so everybody in Nigeria will be happy, he added.

He also called on Nigeria’s First Lady Oluremi Tinubu to fully support the initiative by contributing to the relief effort.

George said: “If Madam First Lady can donate N1 billion to a university, she can also donate into the coffers so that this cost can be borne by the coffers of the state.” “What’s wrong? “Even if the current market price is N120 per litre, we want it to be N300 per litre across the board so everybody will be able to sleep well.”

Confidence and activity amongst consumers

But by cutting the petrol price Nigeria would get a short, very important shot in the arm to the consumer confidence. This would lead to lower costs of transportation which in turn leads to lower costs of housing, a lower cost of living with lower food prices and better rates for the high expenditure holiday season.

He, however, urged President Tinubu to exercise his force as Nigeria’s Minister of Petroleum Resources to make sure that the directive is implemented.

“What is this Minister of Petroleum really?” So you have singular effort and if he is really looking to these cuts of fuel price across all the political parties, all human beings, all Nigerians, you will see the joy in them because you are going to crash the price of items,” George said.

The PDP and 2027 elections: reflections

Bode George bore optimism that the PDP going forward will be able to resolve the current challenges the party has and be able to have a revolution before **2027 elections**. And he condemned party leaders who focused on personal ambition ahead of the party’s collective goals, saying that no one’s ambition should go beyond the party’s vision.

He reminded the PDP of the **importance of zoning** in the party and pleaded with the party to stand by its constitution to ensure fairness, equity and rotational leadership.

That is when I call our party (PDP) the Iroko as the party didn’t emanate from anywhere. It is enshrined in our constitution. Section 7 (3)c of the PDP constitution states that ‘there will be, there must be and there shall be zoning and rotation of party positions and elective offices,’ George said.

‘We used to be a very stable party, but self interest and human devices broke the solideity of the party.’ He blamed former PDP National Chairman **Iyorchia Ayu** for the party’s descent.

George said: ‘What they gave us, we are telling them, this was what they gave us that helped make the party stable.’

Brief of George’s recommendations

– Reduce Petrol Price: We demand the immediate slashing of petrol prices to N300 per litre from December 15, 2024, through to January 31, 2025, by President Tinubu.
– Support from First Lady: As a goodwill gesture to Nigerians, the First Lady should contribute money to fund the initiative.
– Impact of Reduction: Nigerians would be happy with the move and it will also ease the cost of living during the Christmas and New Year celebrations.
– PDP Stability: Ahead of the 2027, the PDP has to resolve its internal crisis, emphasis the party goals over individual ambition and stay with the zoning principles.

The call by Bode George on a reduction of the price of fuel has therefore generated a debate among political watchers and Economists. Many citizens would like the price of petrol to drop, but analysts warn the subsidy bills could strain government finances.

However, economic experts have proposed that being the sole ‘arrow’ to deal with the economic impact of coronavirus, the government should consider targeted palliatives for vulnerable Nigerians that could achieve the same impact.

With the cost of living rising, Nigerians will view George’s proposal more of an attempt by the government to give back to them during the festive season.