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The decision to liquidate subsidy on petrol by the FGN has been reached despite resistance
from a broad spectrum of Nigerians. There isn’t any surprise because governments in pseudo
democracies of the developing world don’t give a damn to the opinion of citizens in policy
formulation and execution. In Less Developed Countries democracy quenches after the ritual of
electioneering campaign and oath administration.
When Mr.Buhari was a combative opposition kingpin, he categorically and unambiguously
denied the existence of the subsidy regime. He pillared his sentimental and dissimulative
tantrum on the shoulder of his experience as former minister of petroleum and head of state.
Sentiment, parochialism, arrant fanatism, and hyper illiteracy made his base buy his deliberate
falsehood like sheep under the guidance of a shepherd.
The goddess of electoral fortunes accorded him unprecedented victories in 2015 and 2019.
From 29th May 2015 to date his “regime” has removed subsidies on petrol more than any
government—- since the lowering of the Union Jack on 1st October 1960. Ironically, he yanked
off the subsidies without the boldest face we have ever seen. And without apologizing for his
misleading comments, shameless denialism, and protests he led against an attempt by
Dr.Goodluck Jonathan’s government to remove subsidies. This from a man said to have high
doses of morality?
The decision to bamboozle Nigerians with City Buses from Innoson motors further exposed their
insensitivity and playing the proverbial ostrich antics. Let’s look at the following questions:
(a)when are the buses going to be ready?
(b)Which agency will manage buses?
(c)How many Nigerians live in the cities?
(d) Was the policy included in their 2022 appropriation bill?
Special wisdom isn’t required to discern that the so-called Innoson buses will not be ready
before the commencement of the new subsidy regime. The scheme left out the majority of Nigerians
who live in rural communities despite their remarkable contribution to our GDP. Rural
dwellers—-people excluded use petrol while engaging in the production or petty trading more than
they chose not to know.
Corruption is responsible for their inability to sustain the subsidy and manage the economy
properly like previous governments. Instead of eliminating kleptocratic powered by their
primitive accumulation, they are making already vulnerable strata of the society the beast of
burden. You can’t make Nigeria the world’s headquarters of the poor, destroy the value of the
currency, make fields insecure and turn around and reel inhuman policies that will sink people
deeper into the hole of poverty.
Well, all eyes are on organized labor, opposition parties, and religious leaders. We live to see
how they will mobilize Nigerians to resist this ungodly policy of Mr. Buhari and his team.
Ronald Wilson Reagan was right when he said “government is the problem”. Nigerians now
appreciate his dictum.
John Danfulani
Awon Village
Kachia LGA
Kaduna State
28th November 2021
