WEDNESDAY COLUMN BY USSIJU MEDANER
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The last few weeks have witnessed several eventful yet significant phenomena in the Nigerian political landscape. So many defining events of both positive and negative dimensions; and as usual, the media has been agog with sensational reports and arguments, as well as pointing fingers and praising as the occasions demand. This week, I wish to x-ray these events as I consider them relevant to the progress we hope for as a nation, as much as the important actions we take on behalf of the sanity and sanctity of the nation.
The last few months were indeed a trying period for Nigerians which all adult citizens of sound mind in the country can attest to. The seemingly uncontrollable fall of the naira and the accompanying hyperinflation that follows it is perhaps the greatest blow to the citizens in the last decades. Everything was literally affected; the prices of staples went up by as much as 400 percent in most cases and literally nothing remains the same for the country. What happened? Was it the government policy that negatively affected the naira as much as we witnessed? It eventually became clear that beyond the machineries of the national monetary policy, the unholy acts of unpatriotic saboteurs, who were bent on taking advantage of loopholes in the system, were responsible for the steep and uncontrollable fall.
Having the naira appreciating strongly in the same manner it fell against the dollar is one positive event that defines the last few weeks for Nigerians. While we hope the naira would continue to get stronger, it is important that we block all outlets and loopholes that are capable of hurting the naira to prevent any future recurrence of what we just went through. The gains we are seeing now came as a result of 40 percent government intervention and 60 percent policy. Those policies must be sustained and improved until we wean out government interventions to have a system driven majorly by strong policies.
There is also the need for us to engage in justice to address the actions and inactions of elements involved in the destruction of the national currency. If we fail to see to the limit of the law and legality, actors and events that were responsible for the hits on the naira, we will most definitely, appear as an unserious entity who has left its survival and progress to chances. This we cannot afford to do, or seen to be doing; those elements behind the fall of the naira must be brought to book and made scapegoats to all who would want to take the same route in the future. Also not to be left off the hook are those behind the floating of some seemingly shell entities as bureau de change that had allegedly benefited from foreign exchange purchase from the Central Bank of Nigeria until its new leadership halted such activities in the interest of the naira. This should be thoroughly investigated and made known to the public as well as its conclusions.
Then, there is another worrisome reality that comes with the strengthening of the naira; the naira has appreciated all the way from about #1900 to a dollar to almost #1100 to a dollar, yet, we have not seen prices of goods and services that were previously increased because of the weakening naira at that point in time. Would the government not do something about it? Would now not be the most appropriate time to introduce a national price control system to protect the citizens?
Treason by Yoruba agitators; this is an unfortunate, unnecessary and unneeded event coming from any quarters of the country right now. We have had enough of instability and attempts to sever our bond of togetherness. This time, the identity of the figure behind the movement makes it even more worrisome and bothersome; the late Moshod Abiola could never have wanted this for neither Nigeria nor the great Yoruba nation.
The misguided urge by the clout seeking woman and her bunch of secessionists is a drama taken too far and one that should be ignored by Nigerians as one of those ‘cruises’ that we witness occasionally, but not without learning from it. Nigeria is indestructible; there have been attempts, but again and again, it has been established that we are designed to be together, to work out our differences amicably and arrive at compromises that throw up a great, prosperous and united Nigeria for all of us.
It gives me joy that outside the camp of the few clowns, no reasonable Yoruba man or woman supports the madness perpetrated in Oyo state last week. And as for the secessionists, there is only one fair treatment, they must face the full length of the law for mutiny and high treason. That is what is fair. What is good for the geese is also good for the gander. The leader of the Indigenous people of Biafra did not do worse than they just did.
It is also important as we digest the import of the madness, and as we laugh off the stupidity of the action, to ask, what were they thinking about and who are the people behind the curtain playing the drums for them and urging them on. It is literally impossible that these elements would go all out without an underground backing of elements who want to see Nigeria failing and set in disarray, the little gains we are building for the nation. It is important we unravel these men and women, whoever they may be.
And before we drop the subject, we must also know that this is a wake up call to our leaders across political and social ladders. What are the stuff you are made of? Does integrity and honesty sit well with you? Do they mean anything to you? Can we continue to trample on the rights of the citizens to good and responsible leadership and governance and yet expect quietness? Nigerians are suffering and are daily asking for improved government actions that bring reliefs to their plights. They cannot continue seeing their leaders soaked in corruption, enriching themselves at the expense of the citizens’ wellness without some actions, stupid or not.
Another rhetoric permeating the Nigeria media space and of serious implications and consequences to the survival of Nigerians is the government energy pricing review policy that has been in the news of late. Yes, for decades, Nigerians have enjoyed subsidies on a number of products including electricity. About eleven months ago, the subsidy of PMS was lifted and up till now, Nigerians have not recovered from the immediate and unprecedented inflation across products and services in the country. And, a removal of subsidy on electricity taken effect with customers on band A to the tune of 240.9 percent from #66 to #225, bode the country more negatives than positives.
We cannot pretend not to know that customers on band A are the entire population of products and services rendering outlets in our communities. The manufacturing sector, the service sector of our economy, inclusive of the education sector. An increase in the power consumption tariff for this population, literally means an increase in the general prices of goods and services in our markets.
What this implies is that we will begin to see a drastic neglect of customers on all other bands, suffering longer time in darkness, as attentions are overtly shifted to the chicks that lay the golden eggs. Whichever way, this is a bad omen for the country. It is definitely not a well thought out policy direction. We cannot afford to have all forms of subsidy removed at the same time. Nigeria is far from recovering from the last one. This cannot be removed again in the middle of the pains we suffer and yet to recover from.
Again, and also, the All Progressives Congress palaver in Kano state; though a party issue, it affects the country, because it takes organised and focused political parties to provide a working governance platform for the country. The events as they unfold in Kano state as regards the back and front sacking and reinstatement of the party national chairman, should be seen beyond the politics that coat it to the constitutionality of the issue. We cannot continue to play politics with such issues. I am not interested in taking sides with either the ward chairman or any other, but I am worried that the party would continue to concentrate on the political undertones of the issue while we both ignore the constitutionality and the direct implications on the strength of the party in the state. For emphasis, and amidst the apparent crisis in the party is the necessity of not only invoking the relevant provisions of the constitution of the party but also taking proper records, that is, due process which may help the party to avoid legal mines lurking in the corners. I think this is the time the party would need to hold its NEC meeting to address pertinent party issues.
In a dramatic twist, there seems to be a rumble in the primary base of NNPP. It was reported that the stakeholders of the party in the 19 northern states have passed a vote of no confidence on governor Abba whom they accused of not only being clueless in the affairs of governance but has been lampooned for witch-hunting his predecessor. Accordingly, his one year in office is worse than the government at the centre which gives us some insight into what is going on in Kano NNPP; all it seems, is not well with the party which promises to do better than its predecessor. However, the ruling party has to be mindful and tactful by engaging troubling opposition parties that may want to distract the public and their parties from their own internal party crisis.
And finally, in the same week, the news of the sentencing of the crossdresser Mr. Idris Okuneye, ppopularly called Bobrisky, flooded the media. I have nothing against the judgment; it was fair and just in law. It is high time we began to show the naira utmost respect as dictated by Nigerian law; the convict broke the law and must face the consequences. But I have a problem with maintaining the standard. Will it stop with Bobrisky? I hope not, else, Nigerians will be forced to submit that what was handed down to Bobrisky was a selective judgement. To protect the naira and halt the regular abuses of the naira, this is the way to go.
GOD BLESS THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA!
