Elder Statesman Aare Afe Babalola Laments Monopoly on Petrol Sales, Urges Free Trade
Aare Afe Babalola, a renowned elder statesman and Chancellor of Afe Babalola University, has expressed concern over the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited’s (NNPC) monopoly on the sale of petrol from the Dangote refinery. He urged the government to promote free trade and competition in the market.
Babalola spoke on Saturday at the Ekiti State capital, Ado Ekiti, where he received the ‘Outstanding Achiever of All Times Award’ from the Ekiti Kete Coalition United States of America. The diaspora group also honored Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, with the ‘Outstanding Political Icon Award’ for his stability in politics.
In his remarks, Babalola lamented the recent hike in petroleum prices by NNPC and called on the government to take measures to prevent Nigerians from becoming beggars. He recalled that there was no begging or stealing in the country during his time, but rather people were hardworking and self-sufficient.
The elder statesman urged businessman Aliko Dangote to sell his petrol directly to Nigerians at his own rate, stating that free trade is the best for any society. “If Dangote can invest his own money to build a refinery, why should NNPC dictate the price of fuel?” he asked. He encouraged others to set up refineries and sell fuel at competitive prices, which would lead to a decrease in fuel prices.
Babalola called on the government to take steps to make life worth living for Nigerians. He emphasized that Nigeria is a blessed country with no reason not to succeed, and that there is a need for a change in mindset. He added that he established Afe Babalola University as a place where people can change their mindsets and become a new breed of Nigerians.
The chancellor thanked the diaspora group for the honor and encouraged them to continue teaching people about the importance of appreciation. He noted that people often appreciate what others do more when they are away from home, but that it is essential to appreciate others while they are still alive.
In his remarks, Olugbamila, Chairman of Ekiti Kete Coalition USA, praised Babalola for his role in creating Ekiti State and his contributions to its development. He renewed the call on the Ekiti State Government to set aside a day as ‘Afe Babalola Day’ to celebrate the elder statesman’s achievements.
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