Majority of Nigerians agreed that fuel subsidy is a fraud forced on us by wicked Nigerians who destroyed four refineries and then began to siphon billions of dollars annually in the name of petroleum products importation. (What we did with cash crops, pre-petroleum discovery, we have resulted in the same. How will the rest of the world not think we are idiots?) Many did not import one gallon of anything but they have become billionaires from subsidies.
All leading presidential candidates in the last election agreed we must rid ourselves of this 'agbana' (blood-sucking idols), but how do you do it in a way that will not further compound the suffering of already beating down Nigerians who were barely scraping by under the last president?
Here comes the new man, on day one, he removed subsidy without a plan, without consulting the stakeholders, without addressing the people on his strategy on how the monumental effect of subsidy removal will be cushioned. He acted with impunity and dared Nigerians to fight back. Labor leaders fumed and shouted. But they got to Abuja, they saw a ghost (ego) and they changed their tone - that strategy has been used severally before - remember the protégé of the president in Osun State when he was paying half salary for years and how he kept union leaders under wrap.
In a democratic government, leaders should never act like dictators. Leaders who act with impunity is telling the electorate, you have no voice, you didn't vote me into office so you can do nothing, I need not consult you when making decisions that will upend your lives, so shut up and endure the hardship. In the end, in Tinubu's style as he did in Lagos, one would not be surprised that the benefits of savings from subsidy removal will primarily benefit his immediate family and loyalist, he would then leave "CRUMBS" to Nigerians. I call Tinubu's politics, the politics of crumbs. My prayer is that President Tinubu will prove me wrong. Because if he did, Nigerians will be the winner.
Seeking public opinions, collating the views of the people and stakeholders like the national assembly, faith leaders, traditional rulers, being plain and strategic are the marks of true leadership, especially in a time of crisis. Nigeria is in a state of crisis because Buhari left a depleted and broke government that was hanging by a thin rope.
If nothing is done quickly to address the effect of subsidy removal, "savants go bigin they chop him oga alive oh". Nigerians are suffering and with this irrational decision, it will be suffering-exponential.
Ise ni ogun ise (Work is the panacea to poverty) mura si ise ore mi (Be conscientious my friend in your work) ise ni a fi n di eni giga (Through hard work can we excel) ti a ko ba ri eni feyintin (If there is none to create a pathway to the top for you) bi ole la n ri (It is as if we are lazy) ti a ko ba ri eni gbekele (If there is no one to be your mentor and godfather) a tera mo ise eni, (Work harder then, don't give up, innovate, there is dignity in labor, a way will open up for you soon) Iya re le l'owo (Your mom may be super rich) Baba re le l’esin lekan (You dad could have real estate in choice places) T’oba gbo’ju le won o te tan ni mo so fun oh (If you trust in their riches, your shame is around the corner) Ohun aho j’iya fun kii t’ojo (What you did not labor often does not last, because you might not value them) Ohun ta ba s’ise fun nii pe l’owo eni (It is what you work for that becomes a treasure) Apa lara, Igunpa niye kan (Arms are your f...
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