‎"Don't Mistake Patience for Acceptance": Northern Christian Elders Press Tinubu to Reverse Petrol Price Hike

The Northern States Christian Elders Forum (NOSCEF) has urged President Bola Tinubu to reverse the latest increase in the pump price of petrol, warning that Nigerians' patience with worsening hardship should not be mistaken for acceptance.

In a statement by its chairman, Elder Sunday Oibe, the forum said the increase would add pressure on households already struggling with food prices, transport fares and other essential expenses, further eroding purchasing power. The warning comes as the country moves towards the 2027 general elections.

A plea rooted in the communities
The elders said they speak from close contact with ordinary people. They said their members live among communities, worship and work with them, and cannot pretend not to see the struggle around them. They also urged the president not to be insulated from reality by praise-singers or officials who paint a rosier picture of the economy.

The forum said millions of families were already battered by hunger, insecurity, unemployment and declining purchasing power, and asked how the government could keep raising the cost of living.

What they want
The forum called on Tinubu to use the rest of his term to tackle rising living costs, unemployment, insecurity and decaying infrastructure. Its proposals include measures to restore household purchasing power, productive opportunities for young people, a stronger response to insecurity, and faster rehabilitation of critical infrastructure.

It also warned against relying on repeated increases in petroleum product prices to raise revenue, and urged the government to find alternative and sustainable sources.

Politics and the pump
The elders said citizens' welfare should take precedence over political calculations about future elections. The increase follows the removal of the petrol subsidy by the Tinubu administration in May 2023, which has reshaped the downstream sector and kept fuel prices at the centre of Nigeria's cost-of-living debate.

The forum is not alone. The opposition African Democratic Congress has also accused the president of pushing Nigerians towards the limits of endurance over the petrol price.

The Presidency's response was not found in the coverage I reviewed. A fair version of this piece should include it.

Before filing:
Government response: get one from the Presidency or the NNPC.

Petrol price: reports vary, roughly ₦1,470 to ₦1,500 a litre. I left the figure out until you confirm it.

Forum's standing: NOSCEF speaks for northern Christian elders specifically, not northern elders in general. The front page headline blurs this, so I kept the full name.

Quotes: I paraphrased. Add the exact "patience for acceptance" line from the statement if you want it.

Mustapha Bature Sallama
Medical/ Science Communicator,
Private Investigator, Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Analysis,

International Conflict Management and Peacebuilding. ( USIP)

[email protected]
+233555275880

Sources
Vanguard, "Don't mistake Nigerians' patience for acceptance of hardship Northern Christian Elders tell Tinubu": https://www.vanguardngr.com/2026/09/dont-mistake-nigerians-patience-for-acceptance-of-hardship-northern-christian-elders-tell-tinubu/

The Sun, "Petrol hike: Don't push Nigerians into further hardship, NOSCEF tells Tinubu": https://thesun.ng/petrol-hike-dont-push-nigerians-into-further-hardship-noscef-tells-tinubu/

Opinion Nigeria, "Don't Mistake Nigerians' Patience for Acceptance of Hardship": https://www.opinionnigeria.com/dont-mistake-nigerians-patience-for-acceptance-of-hardship-northern-christian-elders-tell-tinubu/

Parallel Facts, "2027: Don't Mistake Nigerians' Patience For Acceptance Of Hardship": https://parallelfactsnews.com/northern-christian-elders-tell-tinubu/

TheNicheTheNiche, "The patience of Nigerians not acceptance of perpetual hardship": https://thenicheng.com/the-patience-of-nigerians-not-acceptance-of-perpetual-hardship-northern-christian-elders-tell-tinubu/

The Interviews Nigeria, "Don't Push Nigerians Beyond Their Limit": https://www.theinterviewsng.com/dont-push-nigerians-beyond-their-limit-northern-christian-elders-tell-tinubu/

Headtopics (aggregator), NOSCEF summary and the ADC item: https://ng.headtopics.com/news/don-t-mistake-nigerians-patience-for-acceptance-of-87852128