FEMI ADEOTI COLUMN
The last one-month plus was stunning. It altered every aspect of our lives. We have seen changes like never before. It was a radical departure from our recent past.
What have we not gone through? Practically nothing! See what President Bola Ahmed Tinubu did to us. In just one month!
Fuel subsidy removal, convergence of exchange rate (naira rate to dollar), new electricity tariff, N1,000 charge on proof of vehicle ownership, proposed VAT on diesel and informal market, et al.
The list keeps increasing at the speed of light. Tinubu violently pulled the rug from under our shaky feet. His foot soldiers bragged that it was courage. We take that as mere shenanigans. And from the deepest bottom of hell! Have these actions and inactions renewed our hope?
What has government done for us in real terms? We individually run our own NEPA, water corporation, security outfit, works ministry, etc.
Yet, government still displayed the shameful guts. Asking us to make even more sacrifices. Until we become the sacrifice itself?
Courage is not how well you can “buga.” It’s far from it. The reason Tinubu must govern and not rule. He shouldn’t reign over us either. We detest it. We will resist it.
What sacrifices has government made for us? We want to know. That is what this discourse below addressed. Yes, the other side of courage.
I was thrilled and fascinated by the dialogue. It was picked from an esteemed WhatsApp forum. The discussants speak to our present situation.
Have a wonderful bite in its unusual sequence. You would be glad you did:
Dr. Yemi Farounbi: I believe that the essence of any government is to provide the optimum for the maximum number of people. I believe that we can sacrifice today for a greater tomorrow.
Nigeria is said to be capital of poverty in the world. Last year, there were estimated 133 million poor people in Nigeria. World Bank says four million were added to the population of poverty-stricken people within six months of 2023.
World Bank says as a result of current economic policies, another 7.5 million persons will soon be added to the list of poor. World Bank may control our economy but they never want Nigerians to get to their limit of tolerance.
They are reasonable enough that a collapse of Nigeria will be a threat to Africa and world peace. They know that no country will be able to accommodate IDPs (internally displaced persons) from Nigeria, the way Nigeria was able to absorb IDPs from Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone at various times.
Just drive through towns and count number of cars that break down on the road for lack of fuel or because the fuel injector has been spoilt due to insufficient fuel. Go around and see how many small-scale businesses dependent on small generators have packed up.
I know you cannot develop or reason with people who are hungry, thirsty, homeless, jobless and poverty-stricken. Government of the people for the people and by the people cannot continue to push her citizens into poverty.
Chief Tola Adeniyi: And parading stupendous opulence, irritating affluence, extremely insensitive jamborees…
Dr. Femi Adefila: Sir, I agree with your position. Nigerians are groaning under the yoke of multi-dimensional poverty. Businesses are struggling. But sir, to make omelette you must break an egg.
There are fundamentals that we must set straight. It will not happen by magic but through well-crafted institutional framework. Taking over after a lacklustre leader is a challenge.
Farounbi: Taking over after a lacklustre leader portends danger. Why? Every insignificant effort will be so applauded by people who have not seen any effort for eight years.
And if care is not taken, there’ll be a series of disjointed incremental steps that will be so applauded… and there will be no “well-crafted institutional framework.”
In decision-making, it’s always best to map out that framework. In establishing that framework, many options have to be considered as well as the consequences of each option before deciding the optimum or at least a satisfactory framework.
I am interested in seeing the overall framework so that we will know what sacrifices we have to make, for how long and what results to expect.
If I go by the President’s explanation of his spur-of-the-moment decision to abolish fuel subsidy, the waiting for comprehensive framework may be forever.
I am frightened by this possibility because not every break of an egg will lead to an omelette. It will be good to know what we want to make from the egg. Perhaps, the citizens can have suggestions, even though suggestions these days are dangerous to make. Every suggestion is seen as hostility to the President.
Happily, a few of us have always been like this. If you don’t want any President to waste your time and that of the country, you must not hesitate to make suggestions and offer advice.
Adefila: Sir, time will tell if he is merely gliding on the wave of the moment of the eight years lacklustre presidency of his predecessor or he really means business.
Sir, I just believe that we need a table-shaker, an intentional leader, who can take tough decisions and not just a man that will indulge our pleasure place.
Farounbi: Absolutely. Nigeria needs that. We need someone who will create a sharp break with our odious past. And put us on clearly defined path of growth and development.
In the interest of all of us, our children and grandchildren, we must make the best out of the clay in our hands.
The worst part of hell will be reserved for those who know what to do and do not do it.
Prince Ademola Ayoade: Yes, a table-shaker. But it’s not a tea party. We are all passive and calling for a table-shaker. We have talked about this one million times. We are not working towards it.
I pray we are able to get it right before a madman comes. If he does, I am afraid most of us, if not all us, will have a taste of his madness. We need to put some serious and committed eggheads together who are not going to be parochial or tribalistic to work it out.
Lekan Adebayo: Tough decision? Tough decision that will further impoverish the poor masses. Tough decision that will make necessities of life difficult for an average Nigerian to get. Tough decision that is making Nigerians to live in excruciating pains.
Tough decision that has almost crippled us from reaching our places of work.
Tough decision that is making Nigerians to regret ever voting for APC. The tough decision that is not affecting the rulers in any way, but makes the ruled frustrated and hopeless.
The tough decision that I was expecting from any caring leader of his people was to say, “I cannot run this country on N190 per litre of petrol. I know that increasing the price of petrol would further worsen the worst situation of ordinary Nigerians.
“Having realised that it is not practically possible to manage the economy of this country without removing the oil subsidy, I hereby resign my position as the President.”
This was the tough decision I was expecting before the so-called tough decision that would milk the poor masses to their bones came.
Paulina Adebimpe: You have spoken it all. And the poor became poorer, unable to feed, not knowing what would happen next.
And many who don’t feel or know what hardship is said an average Nigerian who doesn’t know how to feed anymore should continue to endure until it changes. What is going to change, if I may ask?
They are like Pharaoh who increased affliction upon the afflicted!
Those who did not plan a relief for what you are going through but rather take tough decision because they don’t feel what you feel, their family did not feel it either. They don’t care whose head is cut off in the process!
Suffering and smiling is it! The top turn deaf ear to the cry of the masses feeling the pain. Nothing in place to ease it off.
It is easier for the rich to say, “let us endure, let us be patient.” Of course, does a beggar have a choice? As far as they are concerned, the beggar can go and die.
I just know that they know their mission. They know their plans and they know their goals.
Banji Ogundele: That decision you (Lekan Adebayo) prescribed above will be weak-kneed. Nigeria is in this position because no leader wanted to upset the status quo or to bell the cat.
When situations are tough, you need tough decisions to solve them. China shut its doors to the world to achieve progress.
People in this country once bought SIM cards for N240,000, more costly than their phones, before Obasanjo’s deregulation brought the prices crashing down. Now, SIM cards are given free on the streets.
I remember in 1957 as a pioneer of Annunciation School, Ikere-Ekiti, when I joined 32 others as pioneers to clear the jungle where the beautiful school stands today, producing scores and dozens of Nigerian leaders.
You were made to uproot palm trees as punishment for noise-making. Now, mowers cut the fields! If the reformation and hardships that accompany a true change will bring relief to the masses, to our grandchildren, let’s make the sacrifice.
Tertullian wrote: “The blood of the Martyrs is the seed of the Church.” The first 12 Apostles were martyrs to give the world today’s blossoming Church.
If after 63 years we have someone who wants to lead us aright, to clean the Aegean stable, what we need to do is support him by offering constructive criticisms in our editorials, opinions, letters to the editor and same on the electronic and the social media. Don’t criticise without offering alternatives. We should not start on a note of despondency.
Paulina Adebimpe: Sir, they didn’t give room for constructive alternatives.
End of discussion!
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