The Amamyanabo of Twon-Brass, King Alfred Diete-Spiff has thrown his weight behind the proposed removal of oil subsidy by the Federal Government, saying that it will favour the common man in the country.

The royal father who declared his support for the removal of oil subsidy last Tuesday during an interview with The Tide shortly after the official opening of the 7th Port Harcourt International Trade Fair at Isaac Boro Park Port Harcourt, venue for the fair, urged Nigerians to support it because the masses will benefit more.

According to him, 90 per cent of the oil subsidy goes to the elites, those he described as the “big boys,” while the ordinary man is cheated and will be incited to go on strike against himself because he is not educated and well informed on the issue.

The traditional ruler who is also the first military Governor of the old Rivers State, argued that in the days of motorcycles the Okada man filled his tank with about N40 to N50 fuel, but that a rich man with about three to four cars fuels his cars with close to N10,000, so who are they subsidising the fuel for, it is the rich, who are also crying foul now, he queried.

“The police, government agencies, parastatals and the ‘big boys’ are chopping up the oil subsidies. Even if the price of fuel increases as a result of the withdrawal of oil subsidy a commercial bus that will consume, say N2 to N3,000 fuel will carry about 18 to 20 passengers or more, while the big boys cars will only render service to them and their escort. So it is only going to touch the ordinary man little,” he maintained.

“As traditional rulers, he continued, “I am entitled to one escort in front, two cars in the middle and one escort behind, all four wheels cars, and they will all consume fuel, but I am a man of the people, I drive myself.