By Bolaji O. Akinyemi.
There are two dimensions to the dynamics of distraction in Nigeria, the social media and the government. At the peak of preparation for iWalk came distractions from both quarters, though, interwoven as always.
One was the EFCC 15 million bribery allegation to drop charges of money laundering against Bobrisky made known to the public by Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as the Very Dark Man. it was trending and still is. The other was served by the government on its subtlety of petroleum products reductions. Which the recent tax exemptions introduced in the oil & gas sector was meant to serve. They claim that it will bring down the cost of living which has not just hit the roof of families across the country, but has actually removed roofs over the heads of many families.
The Government will not cease to amuse those who are reasonable, while the gullible are kept excited over nothing! The Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Wale Edun, should put the figures that informed this decision in the public and let’s do the arithmetic.At the inception of this administration, how much was a liter of petrol with VAT inclusive, today, how much is a liter of petrol without VAT? Fix the figures in your area and do the subtraction. Tell me how that will make any meaningful impact at driving down cost of living. I expect the President to figure this!
Since we are always at home with spiritual excuses with things requiring sense. permit me to be “spiritual”, corruption is the demon afflicting Nigeria and our economy is its rod of our affliction.
The capacity of the Priest at EFCC who should lead us in prayers against corruption or lack of it of our team of “Economic Doctors” that should treat the symptoms led by Edun and Cardoso is left for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to determine and decides.
Our affliction has found strength in the curse of mono-economy called Petrol-Dollars. As against the activation of our monetary policy from which the Macro and Micro Economies of 230 Millions Nigeria should find live as been jettisoned for the lazy approach to national survival of endless loan taken. The leadership of the central bank of Nigeria should be driven by Economists and not financial ‘Buying and Selling’ Transaction Team. The number one duty of any Central Bank in the World is Price Stability. We all are witnesses to how “very stable” price has been under the new Central Bank Governor.
Monetary Policy and the reform of the financial services sector cannot wait for another day. We proposed *”Agbadonomics”* in January 2024 at the Apostolic Round Table seminar but the Government has not seen the need to creatively engage every Nigerian of productive age to contribute to the economy through our “Agbadonomics” proposal. But it remains the only way to save the days we are in.Economically, the present situation is the worst in our 64 years of post colonial existence, and all Nigerians should be concerned about this; it is unfortunate that those who should be calling for help from all, without regard for political party affiliations are busy playing politics to the point of war in River State and fanning the ember of another in Alimosho while
Nigeria’s debt burden keep rising. A nairamatics information puts our debt servicing at 50% of the total government expenditure of N12.17 trillion in 2014H1, it means that half of the government’s spending was used to service debt, leaving only half for other critical areas such as infrastructure, education, healthcare, and social services, etc.Nigeria’s debt servicing payments rise by 69% to N6.04 trillion in 2014H1, reaching N6.04 trillion, up from N3.58 trillion recorded in the same period of 2023.The implication of this in layman’s language is that DEBT has removed half the food available, half the medical care, half the education, half the infrastructural development required.
Hunger has drawn a line to halve the nation. The people who have something to eat, and those who have nothing to eat. The equilibrium of half asides, is our little saving grace, any increase in the demography of those having nothing to eat will spell doom.This sharp rise in debt service obligations, likely driven by naira devaluation for foreign debt repayments, reflects the growing burden on the Bola Ahmed Tinubu led Federal Government as debt repayment consumes a significant portion of its financial resources.
The buck of this burden on the President’s table must inspire him to give the order on ‘no room for politics’ till mid 2026. He should embrace the opportunity to review his cabinet with every sense of seriousness.Nigeria is snared in political policies. Until his Government stops playing politics with policies, we may not see good governance. The administration is creating impressions. When we are expecting his Government to MAKE impressions, This VAT exemption noise, is just another impression creating policy. They want us to see them working while nothing is working. If BAT is in hope of making an impression as we approach his second year, this poor arithmetic is enough of a reason not to see Edun and Cardoso back on his Team.
A stitch in time like they say, saves nine.The two distractions brought me to the point where I was forced to ask the question:Will this nation be built under this administration?The question could serve the title of this piece, but the choice of; Bobrisky, Efccrisky and the risk of a very dark nation is deliberate, it captures what the very dark man represents. The spirit of activism in search of fame, gains, and not necessarily solutions to our problem.It was he who drew attention to the soap and water prophet in Warri, when CAN that should be concerned about unethical practices of Christianity was carried away with tithe debate till NAFDAC came after the prophet without earthly nor heavenly approval.His new page of activism is not just the Bobo who became a risk by swooping nature, the institution created to fight corruption that has become a risk to all by becoming the very vice it was meant to curb should be of concern to all Nigerians.
I wonder if our leader truly represents us, as 16 Governors led by Ododo of Kogi have headed for court to give the dog of EFCC a bad name in order to hang it. A favourable ruling may save Obaseki from the trap set for his post office life and the vow of EFCC Chairman to prosecute Yahaya Bello may fall to the ground after all.Dark is defined by the absence of light, the more the light the brighter the substance. The lesser the light the darker the substance. Our activist in the spotlight is very dark and he knows it. Martins Vincent Otse, as his names imply; Martins – God of war, Vincent – which is an old form of Vincentius actually means conquering. Has the God of war finally risen to conquer the enemies of our nation? May the meaning of Otse translate to post this war reality to our nation. Otse – Beauty.Unlike the Bob who became a risk against his nature and EFCC who did against the purpose it was established to fight.
Without cosmetic application or surgery like Bobrisky, the Very Dark Man (VDM) is in friendship with light. Looking very light before the eyes of the public without bleaching.Bobo Olanrewaju Idris Okuneye, was born 33 years ago, guess he had a fancy for a Risikat. Had he been a girl, he would probably have picked the name. A blend of Bobo and Risi gave rise to Bobrisky. A joke of a personality.Corruption in Nigeria has assumed a cultural proportion,
iWalk was designed to rid us of pointing a finger at leadership while three of the four fingers point at us as a people. Doing the right thing is odd in today’s Nigeria. At the heart of VDM revelation is how bad things are. In one swoop, is a risk of our existential reality that being a Nigerian is a risk without adequate insurance coverage. In that confession is the alleged role of government in the sales of leniency, nay, clemency. Am still surprised that Nollywood hasn’t served us “Prison In Apartment”, chart burster, the adventure of Bobrisky at Kirikiri Prison.
The episode deserves a personal mention by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu if we are serious about fighting corruption. By now, if not the Minister for Interior at least the Director of Prison service should be under the Interrogation of the IGP to answer to the commercialisation of our prison services. Interior ministry under the starboy has received two shots from the gun of corruption. Is corruption fighting back at him? He would be lucky to make it back on the list of my ministers, but I am not the President.
The IGP is too busy with his errand for Wike in Rivers to have time for the essential affairs of the state when he is too occupied by the non essentials of politics.Many had believed that Bobo was actually Risi and not risky until the man, not the male, please, in Justice Abimbola Awogboro of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, who during risky Bobo’s arraignment and conviction for naira abuse on April 12, 2024 in the eyes of the law, and before the witness of men and women in the court made the self-acclaimed Mummy of Lagos eat the humble pie of his self deception in confessional statement admitted he was male.
The drama of the episode is now a stage play showing in the green chambers of the National Assembly; where the prison officials found it convenient to lie that the male who admitted under oath that he is a carrier of gbola confused them by his dual identity not to know where to put him. In male or female prison, Bobrisky was taken to an Apartment privately arranged by his godfather.If you think that the prison officials were smart, wait until you hear the EFCC!Is EFCC this much a crespo of corruption, should Olanipekun Olukoyede remain the captain of this fight for the soul of our hapless motherland?To be continued in part two.
Dr. Bolaji O. Akinyemi is an Apostle and Nation Builder. He’s also President Voice of His Word Ministries and Convener Apostolic Round Table. BoT Chairman, Project Victory Call Initiative, AKA PVC Naija. He is a strategic Communicator and the C.E.O, Masterbuilder Communications.
Email:bolajiakinyemi66@gmail.com
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