By Valentine Obienyem
The recent strike, once again, has brought to the fore the belief in the government circles that Nigerians are accustomed to hard times and weak of wings for revolutionary flight. The strike has exposed the shallow thinking in government quarters and what should be largely considered as a coup against the masses.
While Comrade Adams Oshomhole was trying his best to galvanise the masses into a fruitful strike, the government was busy castigating him as having not exploited all peaceful options before the strike. This castigation exposed the insincerity on the part of the government. One of the maxims of equity says, “He who goes to equity must do equity.” It is sad to note that the government does not think of dialogue prior to price-increase, because that was the most appropriate time for that. Thus, if I would suggest, once prices are increased without prior dialogue, labour should not waste its time saying that it is entering into dialogue with the government, except the later agrees to go back to the status quo ante.
The deregulation of the downstream sector, which is at the root of the recent crisis, is part of the cocktail of reforms the present administration wishes to implement. What Labour and Nigerians are saying is that the reforms in that sector are beautiful, but not apposite until the necessary facilities and structures are put in place. The position of Nigerians is simple: if our refineries are working, perhaps privatised in their good working conditions, in addition to the refineries built by the private sector, then deregulation will be meaningful. Then, in spite of the prices of crude in international market, marketers can still afford to sell at reasonable prices, since nobody will have to contend with import or landing or other costs.
We witness situations where the government always points at the telecommunications industry as an example of what downstream sector will be in future. In reference to telecommunications and other sectors, let me also refer to the emergence of the National Examination Council (NECO) as the catalyst that quickened the modernisation of WAEC. Facing NECO’s challenges, WAEC is now far from what it used to be.
The point I am trying to make in the forgoing is that any measure, such as deregulation, that will engender competition is a good policy. You are all invited to note that Nigerians heralded the deregulation of other sectors with joy. Have you wondered why they are united in accepting other reforms as they are in rejecting the deregulation of the downstream sector? Nigerians are aware that the foundation on which that particular reforms ought to be built were not laid. Of course, many Nigerians patiently waited for the crash of GSM before buying one, but there is no way one can dodge the use of fuel, it is a very sensitive sector, this is why reforms in that sector calls for caution.
The Committee set up to thinker on how to cushion the effects of the price increase is a slap on Nigerians. Prices of crude are at all-time high, the sensible thing to do is to take from the excess crude oil earning to cushion the effects of price-increase, call it subsidy if you must. But the way our leaders talk about the cushioning, you will think as if they are to use of their personal money. As it is now, other oil producing countries are happy about the increase in international pricing because of the benefits they are deriving from that, but in Nigerian, I do not know whether we should count it a blessing or a curse? I have said this because it is because of the increase that domestic prices went up.
Sometimes when one ponders on what happens in our country, one is genuinely bewildered. The question has often been asked on whether the endowment with oil is a curse or blessing to the country. It is simply a manifestation of laziness and lack of good planning that the government now wholly depends on oil and allowed agriculture which used to be the mainstay of the economy to die. Watching events in Nigeria, it would seem that oil is the bond of unity that is holding the country today.
Nigerians who travel to the United Arab Emirate always tell us of how telephone calls within the country is free as one of the dividends of oil, but in Nigeria, fuel is not even within the reach of Nigerians simply because subsidy has been removed. Tell me the singular benefit we derive from oil? We are now left to believe that the subsidy is used as loans to Ghana, Sam Tome and Principe and to finance other projects that will benefit our neighbouring countries. Are we not the giant of Africa?
Obasanjo, no doubt, may mean well for the country. In fact, he manifests the instinct of a man who is in a hurry to reform the country so that on retirement he may receive the glories. But he needs to realize that far-reaching reforms are not rushed. In rushing, he has developed thick skin and appears not to care if the reforms have turned round to harass and buffet Nigerians. He needs to put himself in the place of Nigerians as to realise the severity of the situation.
An oriental history tells of how Ashoka, once the ruler of India, made severe laws believing that he was genuinely holding the empire together. Then, he built a big prison where he sought to teach radicals the discomfort of non-conformism. Inside the prison was an inscription “Nobody comes out of this place alive.” One day, a Buddhist monk was imprisoned and was boiled in hot, boiling oil, but he refused to die. The news of the “miracle” reached Ashoka, who went to see himself. As he was about to leave, other prisoners dragged him back and showed him the inscription: “Nobody comes out of this place alive.” This encounter with the suffering and condition of the people made him to undergo a profound transformation. This is the type of experience Obasanjo needs. He ought to witness the condition of the people at first hand. But if his prison experience was not enough for what his arrogance suggests, then we are in trouble.
Obasanjo pins whatever he does on reforms and imperative of reforms. The importation of some goods into the country has long been banned to encourage local production. Nobody is quarrelling over such things, but what we say is that our leaders must lead by example. The first principle of government, in the view of Confucius, is as the first principle of character - sincerity. Therefore the prime instrument of government is good example as the people that govern must be eminence of model behaviour, from which, by prestige imitation, right conduct will pour down upon the people.
A society such as ours men who are really committed to the ideals of social justice, such as Adams Oshiomhole. He has demonstrated a consistency that other leaders need. Oshiomhole is a realist and a rationalist; he pierces the moral phrases of our hypocritic leaders to the actual motives of policy. We resent the government picture of him as a rascal. For all we know he is a Nigerian whose commitment to the masses is not in doubt. Oshiomhole resents the antics of government and the antics of some of his colleagues who would have compromised the stand of labour into a gentlemanly protest politely heard and carefully forgotten.
The present battle is not Oshiomhole’s, but that of Nigerians against Obasanjo. I have come to discover that the government is confident that the masses will do nothing since the security apparatuses are in its control. But like other Nigerians, security agents also suffer, only that the nature of their jobs may not allow them to easily show their sentiments. For those who think of the advantages of controlling security apparatuses, the story of Napoleon’s re-taking of France is instructive. As he prepared to re-take France from the Island of Elba, the king, Louis XVII, sent troops to capture him. The troops deserted to Napoleons side and the king fled the country, and Napoleon took over.
Very soon when security officials are sent against Nigerians they will align with Nigerians against their masters. The time is ripe, the situation calls for this, and we look eagerly to see this happen. Nigeria must be salvaged!
Valentine Obienyem,
a lawyer, writes from Abuja.
