Are Nigerians really tired of bad - TopicsExpress



          

Are Nigerians really tired of bad governance? ========================= Thoughts around security, national budget, state of the economy are not debated. Instead, you will read a lot of name-calling and exchange of insults. Ironically, that’s what constitutes present day Nigeria as these social forums comprise of Nigerians from all walks of life. Nigerians are not bothered, nor complaining, nor tired or tired of being tired. “The people deserve the kind of government they have”- Karl Marx Stumbling across an online newspaper item credited to Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, the former Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), harping on Nigerians to insist on leadership change during the upcoming elections, I had to ponder whether ‘the anti-corruption czar’ has bothered to ask Nigerians through any form of survey to reasonably determine whether they feel they are poorly governed. Ribadu is quoted to have said that“Nigerians are tired. We are fed up with this bad name; we are fed up with this bad image. We want a change. We want improvement in our lives. We want jobs for our young men and women. We want better schools, hospitals, good roads. We are entitled to these and there is money. Anybody who tells you there is no money in Nigeria is lying, because the money is there. We are blessed. It is a very rich country. Let Nigerians tell them that we are tired of you people enjoying and buying airplanes. The elite in this country do not even fly commercial airlines any more. They don’t. Tell them we are tired. We also want fairness and justice” Starting with the Presidential Revenue Special Task Force of which he headed, Mallam Ribadu did a commendable job despite the risky stakes involved. He reported that about N16 trillion ($29 billion) had been pilfered away through the connivance of government agencies such as NNPC and PPPRA. The report was supported by the House of Representatives revelation that about N1 trillion was stolen every year in the last 2 years. That is roughly about $ 6 billion dollars in a year! What has happened? Not a single government official is cooling off in any prison or has simply lost his job. In fact the NNPC paid for a chopper for the Presidency for N2.23 billion. Also, no marketer is in prison but rather are still claiming ‘subsidy funds’ approved by Diezani Allison Madueke’s NNPC. The whole process is done in Nigeria, involves Nigerians and nothing a single clerical officer has been fired not to speak of the principal officers involved. Give Greece or even the whole Eurozone $29 billion and see development wonders. Are Nigerians really tired? Remember, the BBC survey in 2006scientificallyrated us as the happiest people on earth. Ribadu thinks Nigerians are tired of bad governance. To add salt to injury, diesel is what powers most of the generators that the remaining 25% or so use. Instead of apologizing to Nigerians and giving diesel for free, it is the most expensive by-product of crude oil in Nigeria save jet oil. And Ribadu thinks Nigerians are tired? Don’t think so. Majority of the users of kerosene in Nigeria, are mainly the poor. Those whom the World Bank categorized as below the poverty line of living on less than USD2 per day. Kerosene is their means of sustenance and livelihood. The users of these products always queue up for hours and days waiting for this at an exorbitant price. The recent ‘suspension’ of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, because he alleged that between January 2012 and June 2013,the NNPC ‘paid’ about N1.728 trillion (about USD 10.8 billion)for kerosene subsidy, has any kerosene consumer revolted on why he has been paying more than the ‘approved’ N50 per liter ? Under the scorching sun, Nigerians queue for kerosene. Some have lost their loved ones due to the inefficiencies of past and present governments. Have they ever complained through demonstrations or insisting that competent people are in the business of governance, to ensure that they get this necessary commodity on time, at the right price? So far, only Sanusi Lamido, someone that has probably never used kerosene all his life, is the one being questioned for ‘complaining’ about leakages. If Ribadu really wants to know how content Nigerians are with the current state of governance, he should go to any social website, highly patronized by a lot of jobless Nigerians such as Facebook. If any comment with an intellectual bend encouraging ‘good governance’ is posted, 85% of the responses and not inclined to see the reason behind the write-up or post. They are more interested in where the next President or Governor comes from. Thoughts around security, national budget, state of the economy are not debated. Instead, you will read a lot of name-calling and exchange of insults. Ironically, that’s what constitutes present day Nigeria as these social forums comprise of Nigerians from all walks of life. #GOODYEMI
Posted on: Mon, 10 Mar 2014 06:57:02 +0000

Trending Topics



Recently Viewed Topics




© 2015