The Typical Nigerian Blame Game
Continues
03 March 2012
By Babandi Gumel
The sudden removal of the fuel subsidy enjoyed by
Nigerians for many years came to abrupt end at
beginning of this year at a time when Nigerians are
undergoing various trials and tribulations.
The Nigerian Labour Congress and its allies called for
an indefinite strike unless the measures taken by the
Government was rescinded.
The petrol price rose from the usual 65 Naira per
Litre to more than 140 after the subsidy came into
effect.
Various demonstrations across the Country took place
and unfortunately some lost their lives in the battle
to go back to the status quo.
The Government was forced to remove the subsidy as it
became clear that it is unsustainable costing it more
than $8 billion.
Obviously this is huge amount and unfortunately
Nigerians had never realised what they had been
enjoying in the past until this subsidy was removed.
Of Course the timing was ill-conceived the Government
should have considered others measures to be taken in
the event of this sudden removal to alleviate the
suffering of the majority poor down trodden masses.
In December last year the Government released the list
of the people who benefit from the subsidy which
included some of the Nigeria's richest people and
other oil importers.
According to the Central Bank Governor Malam Sanusi
Lamido Sanusi the subsidies should be for production
not for consumption.
He and Dr Ngozi Iweala the erstwhile Minister of
Finance were among the few vocal elites in Goodluck
Jonathans Government that came out in support of the
removal of subsidy.
Dr Ngozi Iweala and Malam Sanusi Lamido are among the
few sincere elites in the Jonathan's team that are
trying to assuage Nigerians of the need to accept the
bitter pill with the intention to overcome some of our
economic woes and miseries.
We are not sure whether the removal of the subsidy
would bring better electricity and restore our
refineries and other necessities of life which many
Nigerians routinely cry for.
In the meantime the blame game continues following the
emergency rule imposed in some local Governments
mainly in the North after multiple bombs said to have
been carried by the Militant Boko Haram Group.
Other Militant Groups such as Massob the Biafra Group
and Niger Delta Militants are also threatening to take
revenge causing chaos and mayhem in various parts of
the Country at the time when the Nation is faced with
so many miseries and trials seen the past.
One good thing about all these despite the
difficulties these problems were eventually overcome
after difficulties bringing Nigerians together.
All these Haram the Boko Haram the Niger Delta
Haram,the Massob Haram and Fuel Haram and other Harams
who are giving Fatawas on how to move forward the
Country are nothing but bunch of disgruntled elements
unfortunately being used sometimes by the politicians
to exploit the situation facing Nigerians who live
hand to mouth to perpetuate the ruling elites at the
expense of the poor masses who are mainly innocent.
If the leaders and the led i.e all Nigerians
collectively and individually become sincere we can
move the Country forward as they say if there is a
will there is always a way.
So the way forward is for us Nigerians is to stop all
these bickering and hating one another as taught by
our religious belief Muslims or Christians animists or
whatever and work for the good of our Country.
What we need is constant electricity not bombing
constant sincerity not hypocrisy love and respect for
one another not hatred and disrespect for each other.
We have to sit down with all these Boko Haram and all
other Harams and listen to their grievances with a
view to alleviating their problems once and for all
and the main problems we all know facing our country
is poverty and lack of good leadership.
Though the Government as some people see have good
intention in removing the subsidy by appointing the
Kolade Commission to assess the matter yet some
observers are of the view that it should be done
gradually so as to reduce the impact which can be seen
all over the Country.
So we have to find solution to the problem not
increasing it by something beneficial for our society
thus reducing the corrupt practices and other evils
bedevilling the Nation which make us cry unnecessarily
inviting trouble for our beloved prosperous Nation
that has everything to be proud of.
We are fed up with incessant continued blame game that
takes us nowhere near the solution .We have to change
our intention and be sincere to God and to people and
we must accept our shortcoming and be ready serve the
people sincerely as our ancestors used to do.
We should not allow anybody to use us to destroy
ourselves and the God given natural resources which
should be used judiciously for the benefit of all
Nigerians the most populous Black Nation Pride of
Africa.
In order to maintain stability and retain our status
and credibility we have to work together as brothers
keepers by showing respect to one another as we used
to maintaining the fraternal peaceful coexistence
which Nigerians ever enjoyed time immemorial as a way
forward and solution to all our problems.
God will not change condition of people until they
change what is in their hearts.
Wa Akhiri Daawana Anil Hamdu Lillahi Rabbil Alameen
Babandi A Gumel writes from East London
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EsinIslam.Com
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