Not originally the work of the publishers (Stephen Odoh and Grace Amos), this OPED has as its source, Prof. Chris Mustapha Nwaokobia Jnr. (Convener, COUNTRYFIRST MOVT.)
In other climes the Opposition leads protest against foul policies of government. In our space, the place of the opposition is to fight itself, have intra Party conflicts and leadership challenges. Only to abdicate the levers of progressive opposition to the government of the the day to young people who get vilified and murdered when they respond and react to the excesses of the Gangsters in Power.
In other climes there are Price Regulations and Consumer Protection. In this space citizens of the Country with the world’s poorest people are left at the mercy of Big Businesses and political operators. Banks and Big Businesses declare windfalls and you ask, who are those patronizing them? Where do the very poor get the funds that work for hundreds of billions as profit to the Big Businesses? Is Nigeria not a Rogue Nation governed by Rogues for Rogues, to the chagrin of intending Rogues, and certainly to the grave disappointment of the hoi polloi, and the hapless masses.
In other climes, the media punctures the deceit of political operators and Big Businesses. In this space the media enables the deceit, gibberish, tommyrot and falsehood of governmental operators and Big Businesses. They sing the seeming success of the soulless oppressors of the people. They hail individual wealth that impoverishes many, scarcely ever asking, ‘at what further cost on the poor will this be’?
In other climes, Energy and Power are subsidized, and so is Agriculture. In this space, Government prides in the removal of a non existing subsidy in the Power and the Energy sector. They oblige the corruptive proclivities of government operators and Big Businesses, and lie about everything to excuse the worst larceny known to humankind, as the media gives life to the deceit of the worst political species known to history.
Power Tariff and Fuel Price is on a steady rise, and the Gangsters in Power think that the tale of no more subsidy cuts an ice. They deepen the rungs of poverty thinking that lies and voodoo economics will blind an inquisitive generation. They trade perfidy believing that the people are indeed deceived, not knowing that the deceiver is indeed the deceived. But like every space superintended by Gangsters they never smell reality, they hate the truth, they devalue proper conduct and morals, and mock logic and clear thought until the worst become their lot.
I shall not congratulate Dangote, I shall not congratulate Tinubu, I will not cut the Government or the NNPC LTD any slack until I know the exact litre of fuel consumed daily in Nigeria. Until I know the exact amount of subsidy Nigeria has been paying daily and monthly. Until I know the landing cost of Petrol. Until Government puts to trial all those who have been stealing our Crude Oil. Until the rot called Subsidy is fully and truly explained. Until I understand why a highly impoverished people will have to pay more for Power and for Fuel.
I do not grudge Dangote, why should I grudge him. I grudge a government that has no place for decency and dignity. The President’s Nephew runs a company that allegedly was worth 70 billion a year ago, and a year and a few months after his Uncle becomes President, and the Minister of Petroleum, the Market value of his Petroleum Company jumps from 70 billion Naira to 1 Trillion Naira, ‘no be juju be that’? That’s what a nation gets when Gangsters are in Power. ‘Dangote go chop e own too’ so the people must pay more for fuel. The people are the perennial victim of the evil called ‘leadership in Nigeria’.
If the People protest they are called names, they are charged for Treason and some morally deficient sycophants think that this will continue ad nauseam ad infinitum. We shall see. When organized Labour, the NLC and the TUC call the government names and bay for a protest and strike, they are called haters of government and enablers of treason and treasonable felony. For how long do they hope to sustain the present mess? ‘Wetin I know sef’?
Only Gangsters spend money lavishly without caring about the people. Only Gangsters increase the hardship of the majority for the aggrandizing feat and feast of the minority. Only Gangsters buy new Jets and Presidential vehicles whilst asking citizens to manage. Only Gangsters build new houses for government operators whilst poverty pummels the people. Only Gangsters buy new SUVs for Government Operators in the face of draconic hunger and poverty. Only Gangsters increase Power tariff and fuel price in the nation that houses the world’s poorest population. And only Gangsters treat citizens like a conquered people. This Government must Prove me wrong by exercising some humanity, until then, I am compelled to believe that calling this watch, a watch of Gangsters in Power GIP is pretty charitable and polite.
When a government subsumed by profligacy, waste, Kakistocracy, kleptomania and wanderlust thinks that they can continuously increase the hardship faced by the people without resistance, opposition and conflict, that government MUST be on a steady high. But what can I say, is it not true after all that, When Gangsters Run A Nation, Truth, Values And Morals Become Shibboleth.
I still believe in Nigeria, for over my head I see a New Nigeria in the Horizon.
I’m CHUKWUDUMEBI.
Prof Chris Mustapha Nwaokobia Jnr.
Convener COUNTRYFIRST MOVT. A Good Governance Advocacy Group.
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