Having said that, the current ongoing faceoff between the FGN and it citizens will surely be a turning point of what we spell how Nigerian government treats the masses. Anyone born of this generation may argue blindly that good times had never passed the shore of this country.
Indeed, there were times when Nigeria was sleeping in gold and diamond, in the days of oil boom of the 70s, until trouble started during the Babangida regime (1985-1993) when SAP was introduced and according to him (IBB), the effect of the programme will be 'for a short while'. This was supported by IMF and World Bank and the price of fuel was increase from 70k to N5 overnight.
Things degenerated, beyond words, during the Abacha regime when men were no more men, men became less men, men were thrown back to the stone age, the most civilized of us citizens were made to cook with saw-dusts when price of Kerosene was way beyond even the rich.
The introduction of democracy brought back some check and balance and things started looking up (1999), under the Obasanjo-led administration but the payoff of about $19b to Paris Club, a move spearheaded by the then Minister of Finance, Okonjo Iweala signal a grand opening of corruption that soon may burst the country's economy. While pundit argued that such huge amount should be channeled to infrastructure developments, the FEC held ground that amount to be saved on debt servicing will be more than enough to do just that.
Among items listed to be affected with the no debt servicing payment were roads, schools, hospitals, electricity etc.
Well, as a Nigerian saying goes maybe tomorrow will those items promised in 2006 be implemented.
On ground, insecurity was on the increase with militants in Niger-Delta, Kidnapping became a lucrative trade in the East, pockets of kidnapping in the West, religious tension in the North and the emerging of Boko Haram in the North East.
In 2010, the then President, Yaradua was ill and flown abroad for medical treatment, an action that left a power vaccum which almost split the country. His subsequent death resulted in a peaceful transition of power to his deputy GEJ whose short term in office was extensively criticize by many. But the majority of his southern kinsmen ask for more time saying H.E. need time to assert himself in office.
His real test came when the 2012 Budget was presented few weeks before the end of 2011 and there were widespread of a federal strategy that doesn't want the people to really scrutinise the budget before passage. About the same time, it was announced that the FG is planning on removing subsidy on fuel as the move cannot be sustained if infrastructure is to be embarked on in the country.
Upon investigation, it was revealed that 70% of the Budget is spent on government while a little is used on infrastructure development. FEC argument on fuel subsidy removal was that there will be enough fund to embark on infrastructural development.
In another claim, CBN governor alleged that over N1.5t is used annually to subsidise fuel and at the end of the year a deficit of N200b is also incurred. In other to convince Nigerians, town hall meetings were held in Lagos and Abuja and a possible date of April 1, 2012 was still being discussed when Nigerian woke up on January 1, 2012 to the news that subsidy on fuel has been removed. It sparked a nationwide anger and protest in some cities.
While the IMF and World Bank commend the FG for its moves, Labour, civil societies call on the citizen to gear up for mother of all protest against government insencitive to the citizen.
In spite of these, FG neverblink an eye and when Labour declared an indefinite strike, FG went to seek an injuction from an Industrial Court. This follow a national address where the President announced a 25% deductio in Basic salaries of all executive poblic office holder.
Interestingly, a governor's basic salary is about $15,000 while allowance is about $188,000. This revelation furiates many and a nationwide protest appeared in all capital cities and major towns across the country.
Among what the citizen are demanding for are...
- Total reduction in government spending
- Reverting of fuel price to pre-2012
- Resignation of all FEC members
- Resignation of the President
- Accountability in government among others
Indeed, the call for overhead cost reduction on the part of the FG is a much awaited call. Also, the practice of budget passage days to the end of the year rob the citizen the right to scrutinises the budget and point out bougous allocations like -
- about N1b for food allowance (Pres. and VP)
- about N600m annual salary for Senate President
- about N16m for Gate repairs
- about N40m allocation for newpapers etc
While different groups have emerge at the or front of the struggle, it is important to note that their strategy to act as one is quantum-leaping the struggle beyond government control.
Save the Nigeria group
Enough is Enough
Occupy Nigeria
NLC
NMA
ASSU
LASU plus many others were at the occupynigeria rally at the Ganifawehinmi Park, Ojota, Lagos.
This faceoff and the ongoing strike will go down in history as the point where the future map was drawn. It is left to see who bow and who wins.
Comrade Abiodun Odedeyi (Don).
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