The Cross River State Governor, Senator Prince Bassey Otu, has appealed to petroleum marketers in the state to stop the hoarding of petroleum products.
He enjoined them to ensure that petrol is sold to the public at government regulated price.
Otu made the appeal on Tuesday while briefing newsmen shortly after assuming office in Calabar.
According to the governor, he observed with dismay the recent hike in the petrol pump price following the president’s pronouncement on the removal of fuel subsidy is uncalled for, describing the act as unhealthy, considering the untold hardship faced by the citizenry.
The governor frowned at the attitude of marketers whom he noted, shouldn't have relied on such presidential remarks to immediately punish the populace, warning that he will not allow the citizenry to be exploited by a few individuals.
While urging the marketers not to sabotage the good intention of Mr president who desires to build a more virile economy for the country through subsidy removal, the governor directed all marketers in the state to ensure that the products are made available and the prices reversed to the old price immediately.
Otu argued that the president’s decision to remove subsidy will not just come without some sort of palliatives in place to cushion the effect of the policy on the lives of the citizens, maintaining that government will put in workable measures for a smooth transition to subsidy removal.
Also, he further directed that until a proper transition regime is announced, all marketers of petroleum products should not only open their stations but sell to motorists at the regulated price.