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By SUNDAY EZE
“It amounts to capitulation and outright deception for those of
us who led millions of people out in the street few years ago against
pump price increase and against subsidy removal to now give economic
excuses to justify same. The moral flag we raised in the past is now the
scale of justice to measure the degree of our conscience in the past.”
Sen. Shehu Sani
Reactions have as usual trailed the total removal of subsidy on
Premium Motor Spirit otherwise known as fuel. A litre now liberally
sells at 145 naira. This was coming from a government which though in
opposition in 2012 demonised every attempt to remove fuel subsidy. A
rally tagged “Occupy Nigeria” was staged throughout the country forcing
the government of Goodluck Jonathan to recant its decision. Every effort
made by that government to convince Nigerians through Sanusi Lamido
Sanusi, the former governor of central bank, now the Emir of Kano and
Governor Adams Oshiomole on the need to take such a drastic decision
through town hall meetings proved abortive. Some people were bent on
giving the government of Goodluck Jonathan a bad name in order to hang
it. They succeeded but left us in the same quagmire. Before the coming
of this government, agents of APC boasted of the ease and handy
possibility of selling a litre of petrol at 40 naira. It was a major
campaign propaganda sold to gullible Nigerians. One is shocked that
President Buhari who has continually condemned fuel subsidy removal
since 2003 has suddenly become an apostle of same.
Few Nigerians who lent strong support for the removal of fuel subsidy
in 2012 but were vilified and called unprintable names are presently
vindicated and must be laughing at our national naivety. We can clearly
understand now that political and partisan party interests were driving
the then opposition to subsidy removal. Today, those who condemned and
mobilised men and their resources against fuel subsidy are ironically
current champions of the removal. They are now governors, legislators of
both National and state assemblies and party stalwarts. What they said
and did in 2012 are streaming on the internet as testimonies against
them and of their selfishness.
They brazenly lied to the nation and the labour movement and civil
society group are yet to mobilise to the streets. The pipers are
presently those who dictate the tune. One governor from the North West
who spear headed the “Occupy Nigeria Protest” only issued a statement
calling for calm. Any way you can fool some people sometimes but not
everybody all the time. They made PDP policies look criminal and anti-
people while this decision of APC is greeted with deafening conspiracy
of silence. Bola Ahmed Tinubu who was one of the arrow heads of “Occupy
Nigeria Protest” in 2012 has come out strongly in support of the
removal. His views were clearly articulated in a piece entitled “The New
Fuel Pricing: Much Better Deal For Nigerians” He said, “if government
sets the system fairly, it will ensure better supply and with it
economic certainty. Over the long term, it will boost investment that
can spur employment across several sectors. Perhaps more importantly, it
will liberate money that government can now use to lower the social
costs of living for our brothers and sisters who really need help.”
Tinubu labored in vain to convince Nigerians that the benefits of this
subsidy removal are enormous and that the accruals will be adequately
invested as if APC government falls from heaven. His position was not
different from the one canvassed by the previous government. The
different was that Bola Tinubu said this.
The likes of Bola Ahmed Tinubu should not patronise us. They should
tender unreserved apologise to Nigerians for intentionally misleading us
to work against a sincere policy of government which they knew was not
sustainable. Four years on, the lies APC told as a launching pad to gain
power has suddenly become its’ current policy thrust. The economic toll
this fraud has taken on the nation would have been averted four years
ago but for political interests of APC stalwarts who saw the need of
hiding under the removal to hit back at the past administration.
All is fair and foul in war and I add in politics. You can haul any
weapon of lie of your choice at your opponent to prove him wrong and
stand tall on the altar of patriotism while in the end it is all deceit.
To many Nigerians who can see beyond their noses, fuel subsidy regime
was characterised by big time fraud. It is true that some people
miraculously turn billionaires overnight through sustained subsidy
fraud. But those saddled with the responsibility of checks abandoned
their duties or had encouraged and connived with the system to fleece
the nation.
Many do not have any qualms with the removal but what do poor tend to
benefit from it? Government owes Nigerians a duty to believe it is no
longer business as usual. We must be well informed of the benefits
accruing to Nigerians from this policy. Those benefits accruable to the
common man as a result of this subsidy removal should be reeled out so
as to keep tab on them. For this purpose, will our children attend
schools free? Does it cover free medical treatment? How does this
create employment? We lack social security in Nigeria. What happens to
transport fare? Does this take care of it in all ramifications? The
purpose of government is to provide for the welfare of its citizens.
Since May 29, 2015, the current government behaves as if it is still
campaigning by placing every blame at the door steps of the previous
administration.
President Jonathan established SURE-P where funds accruing from
subsidy removal were channeled to infrastructural development. Late
General Sani Abacha established PTF which was chaired by President
Buhari to cushion the effect of fuel increase. The minister of
Petroleum, Ibe Kachikwu failed to provide one relief proposed by
government. He wrapped the benefits of the withdrawal in the in-built
infrastructural programmes of 2016 budget. Nigerians need to know.
Sunday Onyemaechi Eze, a media and Communication Specialist wrote via siunnyeze02@yahoo.com and can be reached on 08060901201
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