We run a prodigal govt here — Femi Adeoti Column

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FEMI ADEOTI COLUMN,

Things are different now. Something good is in the offing. We have to
grab it. And run with it with the speed of light. We miss it, we may
be doomed forever. Frightening?
No! It’s one huge positive fallout. The real dividends of fuel subsidy removal are dropping in trickles. Now that you have dealt decisively with us, let’s move forward. You have removed the subvention, let’s
look elsewhere. That’s the right and best thing to do.
All profligacies must be cut down. These are the subsidies for the
opulent, the affluent. And they are in their large numbers. All the
trees that bear no fruitful fruits must be pruned. The time has come for us to get genuinely serious. It’s a rare opportunity. Such a
chance doesn’t come often.
We have to take our collective destiny jointly in our fragile hands.
We are the only ones who can make or mar ourselves. Nobody else but us. The earliest we realise this, the best for our lives.
Like the biblical prodigal son in Luke 15 verses 17 to 20, KJV: “When
he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired
servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death!
‘I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I
have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to
be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ So he got up and went to his father.”
Let’s borrow ourselves some useful sense. Ours is a classical example of government of prodigality. That’s what we run and feast on; a prodigal government.
And exactly what we truly are. Sadly, it runs in our veins. It is in our DNA. It permeates down the line. “From top to bottom.” Our lot!
Subsidy removal must not be halted. We can’t allow it to stop with
fuel. Let the beat go on. The music must not cease abruptly. It’s not
permissible.
Removal of subsidy must be holistic and overall. It must cut across board, all strata. It has to be all-encompassing. It is far beyond fuel. The rich
too must cry profusely. Let’s all cry together so that we smile together. That is the way to do it.
Fuel subsidy is essentially for the masses. The poor must not be made to cry alone. The lop-sidedness of old has no role to play here. It has done its bitter beat. It was to our greatest disadvantage.
We have for too long run prodigal government at all levels. That needs to be halted forthwith. Fuel subsidy removal has shown that’s doable.
It is an eye-opener. No thanks to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. It was an expose on the spendthrifts in our midst. Our eerie leaders
inclusive.
The government we run at all levels is prodigal, large and over-bloated. Governance is ridiculously expensive in our clime.
Extravagance is the password. And we permit it to be so. No
resistance. The reason we are where we are.
The noxious swindle emanating from Hadi Sirika’s jaundiced Nigeria Air is disgusting and damning. He once held the aviation ministry tightly by the jugular.
He literally became a law unto us. His word was “yes” and “amen.” He taunted us to the very last day of his reign. He reined it on us at the slightest opportunity.
His supposed closeness to former President Muhammadu Buhari was his
weapon of mass destruction. He flaunted it recklessly to our bare
faces. He used it to the maximum.
Sirika was every inch arrogant. He was a tin god when he held sway. In fact, he played God throughout. He cared not if our ox was gored. Or even brutally bruised. He comported himself as if there would not be
tomorrow.
But he goofed. His tomorrow came. And he was gone with the whirlwind. He was a perfect exemplar of a prodigal minister. He came, saw and
conquered us.
Imagine what he made of his Nigeria Air! We were fleeced point blank. He was wicked and daring. He changed the colour of an Ethiopia Airlines craft. He claimed he did it for our sake.
He ended painting it for a “meagre” N139 billion only! On May 26, 2023, he presented the same aircraft to us. That he had fulfilled his
mandate. The Nigeria Air of his dream. Signed, sealed and delivered!
But on June 6, its managing director, Captain Dayo Olumide, put a big lie to that. He reportedly told the Senate Committee on Aviation: “The aircraft was a chattered aircraft from Ethiopia hired for a few days to showcase the logo to Nigerians and their shareholders.” End of discussion!
He even rubbed salt in our festering injury. Sirika called the whole
nation to witness the deceit. And some of his ilk did honour the call.
He was audacious enough.
He made a jamboree out of the mess. He pointed straight to our
collective face. There and then he told us to go to blazes if we
cared.
Tinubu should move against Sirika and his cohorts. He should do that for our poor sake. They should be brought back forthwith. He needs to be drastic and brash in his action and inaction. They should account for every kobo, cent and penny that went down the drain. All for his cursed Nigeria Air.
Somewhere else, mouth-gaping figures are flying. They are occupying every available space. The social media particularly. They are being brandied as remunerations of Nigeria’s federal lawmakers. Senators and
representatives alike. The situation is not different from the Serika saga.
No need dwelling on the details for now. It is safe to say the figures
are quite stinking and nauseating. For instance, a claimant insisted, a senator earns N353.756,988.00 a year. See what I mean. It’s better left at that.
The same claimant put a footnote. It will set any rational mind
thinking. It is instructive: “We cut subsidy, we must cut these too. Even if the devil may be in the details of the figures bandied here, I still unreservedly endorse the basic principle of demanding that the
Tinubu administration should demonstrate leadership by example by drastically cutting down on all forms of profligacies in the
management of our public finance!”
And that is the message. It must not be lost on Tinubu. It’s his
takeaway. He should meditate on it. It should move him to positive
action immediately.
We knew fuel subsidy was a monumental fraud. But they forced it down our throat. We were subdued. Now they have ambushed us to submission.
This time on its total removal. We pray this won’t rear its ugly head
again.
So? With their subsidy removal, we are good to go. We are actually
going somewhere. We’re getting closer to the heart of the matter. We will get it right someday. Our uhuru is at hand. We must not shiver. We must remain steadfast.
Let’s be fair and fearless. Let us be bold and brave. We have no
viable choice. We must expand the scope of subsidy removal. And we have to be conscious and conscientious about it.
Let it touch the untouchables too. The high and the mighty must equally feel the pains. No sacred cows. We are joint stakeholders in this
Project Nigeria.
This is the Herculean task. It must be done. Right now! No luxury of
time and season.