18 Feb 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measures taken by the Government was rescinded.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. Comments 💬 التعليقات |