By Prince C. Dickson
The first fuel increase of approximately 14%, was
announced by General Olusegun Obasanjo on the 1st Oct 1978. Before that
increase for almost 12 years' fuel price was 8.4/5 kobo, before father
Obasanjo sent it to 15.30 kobo. I was discussing deregulation with an albino
friend (I mean with man) he simply could not make out any A or Z from our
conversation.
Before I continue let me use this piece to say
congratulations to Obasanjo on his Labour Bill, for another successful
further punishment on the masses. I say congrats, in the words of a
disserting voice, Senator Uche Chukwumerije � � Lets, see how posterity will
judge us�. I have discussed the ongoing reforms of the present
administration, from the civil service to the monetization, NEEDS, the 25
billion Naira bank palaver and many more. One fact has continually been on
the surface, from the government�s viewpoint- Nigerians lack patience, on
the other hand, Nigerians are screaming blue murder � insensitivity. The
Petroleum Product Pricing Regulatory Agency says they have effected full
deregulation of the downstream sector. I am yet to see any sense in their
nonsense. Strangely the average Nigerian does not understand all the English
about deregulation.
The diminutive Adams Oshimole as of writing this piece
must have finished dinner with the shameless SSS who could not locate a ship
on our waters or are engaged in a war of wits with the Biafran warlord Dim
Ojukwu. Few days before the increase the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) had
been successfully gagged by both judiciary and legislative. I can almost
take a bet on my late dog, the NLC can not do anything. Up Obj on his recent
success. Virtually everyone and everybody that is a �body� has condemned the
hike, but trust uncle Sege �to hell with everyone�.
Much as some of us are not entirely novice to the power
cum political and economic play of the entire oil industry and how the
so-called international market affects �pricing�. The ordinary poor Nigerian
is the one suffering for the neglect, the failure and complacency of our
lame leadership. I recall one of Obj�s campaign ads in 1998, it credited him
with having left, all the refineries in good order, and how decay had crept
in. He promised change. Unfortunately in the last five years, its been one
reform after the other, no solution and we are told to be patient.
Lets forget petrol, the painful increase includes
kerosene, the most common cooking fuel for the ordinary Nigerian. Well, like
I would always say Obasanjo�s wife, children, cousin or relation will not
need to use kerosene. Our leaders lost feelings a long time ago. They are
only sensitive to their greed and selfishness. For the umpteenth time,
another increase, but praise God for once, no reason is given, except that
we are deregulating. I was talking to a �man on top� his words were �Obj
means well, we have to go through this together, in the end we will see the
benefit�. The same reasons Nigerians can afford SAP and the result of our
patience is still in the morgue.
Everyone has talked of benefits, no one seems to be
thinking or saying anything about the pains the masses will face. Off course
the glorified thieves in power don�t queue, don�t even pay for the fuel, so
they don�t know the feeling! A nation of deaf leaders, for all its worth,
every reasonable person has condemned this increase, yet eggheads in
government don�t see anything wrong from the NLC, civil communities, to
traditional institutions. Yet the all-knowing messiah prophet Obj sees
nothing. The jargons of crude oil price are same old song. NNPC is
shamelessly telling me prices will fall. In Nigeria what goes up, never
comes down, this is much even the mad man, Prof. as we call him knows.
Much as the usual 14 days ultimatum has been issued by
NLC, the scenario has already been executed even before it commences, a
little here, a little there, then the scene closes maybe we would settle for
50 Naira or say 51 Naira. We all know the drill. To the mass action, when
poor man stays at home till further notice without food, money, based on our
subsistence form of living, will he not die at home? It�s gradually
occurring to me that our mass actions are slowly becoming massive failures.
They might have been a partial success but the truth is that, cant other
means be explored. Unfortunately no! No other means because our leaders, the
guys up there don�t give a hoot. The cost of food, transport, and everything
will skyrocket. It�s really painful that our fuel increase movie is all for
those in government. The so-called deregulation is killing and for how long
we shall continue this movie? Only God knows, but like our Nollywood movies
�To God be the glory�
Prince C. Dickson can be reached at [email protected]
