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Shattered Dreams And Squandered Opportunities By Jide Ayobolu I still not understand the rationale behind the fuel price hike. I do not know why the President is working against himself. All the reasons put forward for the increases are not only meretricious but also superfluous and have scant regard for the socio-economic conditions of the masses of the country. Government has failed woefully in the discharge of its duties and responsibilities since 1999. And, has variously violated the provisions of the 1999 constitution. No wonder, government has become a disappearing phenomenon, as governance has being in abeyance. The roads are in a deplorable state of disrepair, after several billions of naira was budgeted for the construction and repairs of roads between 1999 and 2007. Both the education and health sectors are in a shambles, with the universities and polytechnics on incessant strikes, while hospitals have remained mere consulting clinics. Unemployment and poverty are the order of the day. There is apparent insecurity of lives and property. The price of fuel has been increased about 11 times since 1999 and the exchange rate keeps going up on a daily basis. And, foreign investment has been nothing but a tantalizing mirage. Today in Nigeria, garri is being imported from Benin Republic, groundnut from Ghana, beans from Burkina-Faso and rice from Thailand and other places. Yet, our leaders delude themselves that, they are doing a yeoman’s job. Even, the late maximum rule General Sani Abacha did not increase the price of fuel for the five years he ruled. He indeed, reduced the price from N15 to N11 when he eased out Ernest Shonekan illegitimate interim national government and it remained the same till he died in 1998. Not only this, he stabilized the exchange rate at N22 to $1 for about five years. Similarly, the corruption or graft during the dark days of military jackboots has continued unabated under the present civilian dispensation with greater intensity, so much so, that corruption is been condoned as if, it is an official state policy of the current administration. Clearly, the present administration seem to have run out of steam, and it is at it’s wits end in terms, of generating creative initiatives to bail Nigeria out of the present socio-economic and political quagmire, as there is no difference as such between the Obasanjo and Yar’Adua governments. Quite frankly, I do not see in practical terms, how the next four years will be different from the last prosaic eight years, with regards to prudent management of the economy, public accountability and probity, resuscitating decaying infrastructure, creation of wealth and generation of employment, elimination of corruption, poverty, nepotism and favourtism, abating unnecessary altercations between the executive and legislature, investment in non-oil sector such as agriculture and solid mineral, for example, gold, tin, bauxite, bitumen, coal, aluminum, copper to mention but a few. This is because fresh ideas and thoughts are not being injected into governance. It is business as usual. In order words, everyman to himself, God for us all. Yet, Nigeria has a very wonderful opportunity to change for better as the leading light in Africa but our leaders are our bane. Rabidly corrupt, old and infirm, short-sighted, confused and benighted. They have succeeded in almost ruining the country and what we have is shattered dreams and squandered opportunities. Yet they have held on to power very tightly because to them, being in government is a matter of life and death. Clearly, our leaders live in unqualified luxury and opulence, while the masses wallow in miserable poverty and want. Our leaders have increased the pump price of petroleum products, so that the hapless and helpless Nigerian masses to pay for government’s inefficiency, mismanagement, maladministration and graft. It is to this end that the strike action is not only legitimate but a veritable tool for liberating the masses from the shackles of oppression and misanthropic economic policies. And, if this not done, Nigeria will undoubtedly in the not too distant future, gravitate towards a one-party state with a “merciless messiah” at the helm of affair of a ruthless political party using military tactics and garrison methodology of way of achieving its ulteriour motive. What we have now in the country is a circulating elite that is deaf and dumb, democratic despots, they don’t listen to advise, they don’t care a hoot about the conditions of the masses, they don’t where they are coming from or where they are going and suffer from illusion of grandeur. And, Nigeria is the worst for it, drifting in a vicious cycle of confusion, corruption and economy mismanagement. I think as a matter of fact, our electoral laws should be reviewed, and those who aspire to lead Nigeria at the highest level should be people with sound education qualification, cognate administrative cum managerial experience. Not people that were foisted on the people, not people who lacks the intellectual ability and necessary administrative acumen to address squarely serious and complex matters of the state. If Awolowo, Abiola, Atiku or Ken Nnamani had presided over the affairs of the country in the past eight years. I have no doubt that, Nigeria will by now be one of the greatest countries in the world. But, one thing is clear; any government predicated on graft, falsehood and deceit will not last. That is why the various cases in the different electoral tribunals should go on to there logical conclusion, the electoral fraud of April 14th and 21st, 2007 should not be swept under the carpet. If the fraud is allowed to stay it will set the country several years back. Democracy is predicated on justice, fairplay and equity. The idea of a government of national unity is a lie meant to hoodwink the Nigerian people, circumvent the truth and legitimize an illegitimate government; hence, if history is anything to go by, the government will sooner than later collapse like a pack of cards. This is so because, those who fail to learn from history will certainly become part and parcel of the relics of history. |