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NIGERIA: See us in Tears; In Search of Goodluck we Found Patience (Part 2)
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Submitted by Philips Akpoviri on Wed, 11/01/2012 - 12:26pm
As I have remarked elsewhere before, the benefits of an Ijaw man living in a shanty in the creeks is access to sweet free fresh fish. The Hausa man tucked in a mansion somewhere upland will pay dearly for the same or perhaps less fresh item. So let the benefits of our being hydrocarbon-rich Nigerians be to enjoy cheap petrol.
Lest I forget, the same leaders have bragged about the fact that following their genial amnesty initiative, Nigeria’s hydrocarbon export hit record volumes in 2011. Nigeria has always been Africa’s largest oil exporter, the peace in the Niger-Delta and the accompanying positive spin-off effect on the production should only normally be a palpable blessing. No, not so! Our national debt profile is reportedly growing even more robust by the day.
They say, we spent 1.3 trillion naira on subsidy in 2011 alone. It’s too high a burden to bear they cried. They removed this from the 2012 budget but we are still searching for the part of the budget where this massive sum was captured in lieu of subsidy. Worse still, we did not see any proportionate increase in the capital expenditure plan to account for such a ‘windfall’.
By the way, what is the guarantee that our leaders are telling us the truth? They have argued that Nigeria averaged 250 to 300 billion Naira per year on subsidy prior to the Dr Jonathan days. But in 2011 under President Jonathan this sum somehow skyrocketed to 1.3 trillion. How? Where are the records? Who disbursed and who received these moneys?
Why should I not think that these figures were synthesized by the pro-rich economists to hoodwink the ever gullible Nigerian majority? If they are real figures, where are the records? All current affairs-savvy Nigerians have a clue as to how things work in the petroleum sector and how we have not been able to get accounts ironed out. Not even after the huge funds that have been lavished on the comical probe panels and Committee sittings which always end without tangible results.
A whopping one trillion naira is in question here. If the records are straight on this, we should have the names of the culprits precisely written in some books. Nigerians have been known to serve jail terms for stealing only a few thousands of naira, why is no one paying the price for defrauding the Nigerian state of this intimidating volume of money?
If the Nigerian Police, the EFCC, ICPC and all such law enforcement and anti-corruption institutions choose to give a blind eye to this, then they are bound by common moral justice to equally forgive every inmate in all Nigerian prisons or detention facilities accused of stealing. Rich or poor, we are all Nigerians, so, the tacit pardon should be flat across board. Period!
These senior fellows must really be thinking we lack grey matters. Otherwise how can one explain the illogicality and phoniness of the action of the Federal Government setting up a committee saddled with the responsibility of engaging stakeholders nay Nigerians on the issue of subsidy removal only after effecting the removal of the subsidy!
One great writer, Dr Reuben Abati once had this to say on a similar anomalous action taken few years ago. Hear him: “The mischief and dishonesty are obvious: why set up a committee to seek the input of stakeholders when a final decision has already been taken?”
The same critical Dr. Abati issued the publication announcing the formation of this similar committee this time! He has roundly metamorphosed true to my thick fears as I captured in my piece http://www.iq4news.com/philips-akpoviri/dr-abati-it-hard-say-goodbye (which I published immediately upon his appointment as Special Adviser on Media to the President). May God be with him anyway.
Now they have erected a Subsidy Re-investment Committee headed by the respected Sir Christopher Kolade. He is though a great man but clearly not in a good position to superintend against the monstrous magnitude and volume of corruption in Nigeria today. Suffice to say that this appointment is not only ludicrous but also smacks probable intent to deceive.
Because these bad smart guys own contracting companies and good friends across the sectors; they will still be the ones to secure the contracts from the Re-investment Committee as they will run rings around him. They will secure the contracts. And they will inflate the cost, steal and abandon the projects again! And again!! And again!!!
If a dynamic 54-year old President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces adequately equipped with a Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctorate degree still find it this difficult to tame them, what makes any sane Nigerian think that one 80-year old baba can stop these agile, brainy corrupt men all of a sudden? How?
At this juncture, I do submit therefore that I am not entirely against subsidy removal. It surely cannot last forever.
But it is only right to put first things first. Logic must never be enabled to stand on its head!
Hence, I re-state the obvious: firstly, the nation’s leadership should take the lead in the quest for change by manifesting their personal sacrifices. The UK under the incumbent Prime Minister, David Cameron did it; Obama’s US has done it. Their sacrifices are ubiquitous on the web.
Secondly, our dear President must show a great political will required of a great leader to combat corruption. Kindly excuse my fair-intentioned comparison, but truth is he saw Muhammadu Buhari do it nearly three decades ago; he’s got the same instruments – and ability – so why not use them?
The President is the General Overseer of the nation and the national leader of the ruling PDP. He must use his political machineries to ramp down the cost of governance. Singapore’s incumbent leadership showed us the way only a few days back.
Finally, we are in a democracy. It is absolutely necessary to win the confidence of the majority before executing such earth-quaking reforms. Objective consultations, long-range planning, sensible palliatives and a general improvement on the deplorable living condition of the sick and dying masses must be made manifest.
Unless these 'miracle workers' who kept the missing #1, 000, 000, 000, 000. 00 die all of a sudden the same fate awaits the subsidy savings upon its removal. It will be a case of still birth.
Anything other than these, I reluctantly predict will lead us further down the lane to doom. We shall be disappointed; we shall cry even harder – and die even sooner than expected. Because I truly love this country, I hope I am wrong; I pray my prediction is wrong.
May the soul of Mr Mustapha Muyeedeen Mofoluwasho Opobiyi murdered in Ilorin during the anti-subsidy removal protests rest in peace. Amen.
May God lead our leaders right.
Comments
#1 What a time for a previous
Submitted by SJ (not verified) on Wed, 11/01/2012 - 1:19pm.
What a time for a previous spineless leader to turn tiger. I think the reason he has not capitulated is because there is no money for them to spend again and the government has to get funds from somewhere (us...the poeple that stood by while he spent billions at the presidential inaugural party; at Nigeria at 50 and on numerous jets). "They have swallowed it for several years, what is a mere 117 percent increase in fuel?" Our Ogas said. Now Goodluck seems to have run out of his 9 Lives he Is wondering how to gracefully please both sides.
The question now is what next? Will this revolution achieve all the "tall dreams" we are demanding or will we settle for more promises?
By the way why has labour allowed international flights??
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