Posts Tagged ‘fuel subsidy’

Dear Mr. President

Posted: January 3, 2012 in Blogs from and about school!, DAY 2 DAY
Tags: , , , , , ,
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Your Excellency, top of the day to you. Especially since it looks like you’re the only one who’s having/has had a good day. Maybe you and Reno Omokri, and anyone else you wish to add to that list. Did you have a nice Christmas? I hear you did, hear you were dancing your heart out in appreciation to God for a ‘brilliant’ year while Boko Haram sent families in various parts of Nigeria for early meetings with their Maker. Lest we all forget, you are the Commander-in-Chief of this Nigeria. Not the Nigeria portrayed in some Western movies as a clan of naked, muttering ‘closer-to-apes-than-humans’ Nigeria, the Nigeria that is the 1oth largest owner of crude oil. Yep, that one.

I had a nice Christmas too, spent mine at church. Got home to find my house burgled. In the UK? I can hear you ask. Yes Sir, even in England; crime has no nationality. But guess what? The Police were at the house within twenty minutes of us placing the 911 call, and forensics about an hour later. They’re even offering us emotional support, seeing how traumatized we were from the incident. Now while as the days go by I lose any hope of getting back the things we lost, you and I wouldn’t want me to replay what the scenario would be if this happened in Nigeria, or would you Sir?

Enough of the digression, this letter is to talk to you about the sudden removal of the subsidy on PMS, also known as fuel. Why? Who lied to you? Which Ahitophel (2Sam16:23) has deceived you, filled your head with lies on how Nigerians will love you for removing the subsidy on fuel? Flip that, what did you reward this ‘counselor’ with?

I know you live in Aso Rock, shielded from the realities everyday Nigerians face but I’m sure even you have heard there is no electricity. Since you came into power, I’m sure you would have noticed the exodus of industries because of the harsh business environment. Even if you didn’t notice, one of the stooges you’re surrounded with should have at least hinted, even if in jest. Those that choose to remain are faced with struggling to stay above water, balancing their books at the end of the month because they run their offices on generators (and fuel), coping with the ill-taught, semi-baked graduates our poorly funded/managed universities produce, and still trying to offer their products and services at reasonable prices.

I heard about the ruckus around fuel subsidy, all the discussions, meetings, etc. Well done! Truth is Sir, I am in favor of the subsidy removal. Are you surprised? Don’t be! Truth is, a whole load of us are in support of the removal of the subsidy because come to think of it, we can do a lot with the $8billion (£5.2million) that will be saved from the removal. A few questions however:

1. What has been done with the monies saved from the subsidy removed from diesel about three years ago? I know it wasn’t done in your time but surely you would have reviewed the document to know where to channel this subsidy you’re going for? I’ve seen the document containing what your government plans to do with the subsidy but honestly Sir? I don’t believe a word of it. I’m sorry.

2. How do you expect your people to survive? When some States haven’t fully implemented the N18,000 minimum wage? How does fuel move from 65 to 141naira overnight? How does a bag of pure water move from 80 to 170 naira overnight? How do transport prices more than double overnight? “To serve our fatherland with love and faith and strength”……how do we serve if we are hungry, if we are crippled by poverty brought on by ‘Subsidy Removal’?

3. Subsidy removal is a process that takes years to implement fully, Ghana started theirs in 2004 and finished a few days ago. Iran offers lessons on how to remove subsidies and not hurt the poor. Whoever told you all it took was a press release?

Culled from Linda Ikeji’s blog. A Nigerian, before Reno wakes up again.

At this point I must say there is some evil in all of us because you did what you did on the 1st of January, and both NNPC and private fuel station owners changed their prices (on old stock) immediately. Why? Even I don’t have an answer to that.

On to more pressing issues (because we are running out of time on that one), what’s the deal with Boko Haram and their ultimatum to Christians to leave certain parts of the North in three days? Who is this Abul Qaqa? Nom de guerre of course but is Mr President telling us he can’t be found? Seriously? So how does he reach the media each time to claim responsibility on behalf of Boko Haram for bombings, the destruction of property, and most importantly, the snuffing out of lives? Mr President where is the decisive action there? Calling a state of emergency? What does that achieve? I want you to get angry Sir; their ultimatum was issued in response to the state of emergency you called. You are the President of the most populous black nation on earth, Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria! Are you just going to let them walk over you like that?

Mr President, I know that deep down, you are a good person. I know you have a heart, and you do not want Nigerians on the street, at the mercy of the animals nicknamed the police, there are already reports of the Nigerians you swore to protect being shot at by the animals Police . So do the right thing, the logical thing. Reverse this subsidy removal (which was fraudulently done I hear), and then let’s talk.

P:S – And honestly Sir? I think you should lose Reno.

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