Opinion: Just before Okonjo and Allison drives us crazy

by Odusote Oluwakayode

Okonjo-Iweala-and-Alison-Madueke

Surely, something is rotten in the NNPC and the Minister of Petroleum, Alissson Madueke either participated in it, created the environment in which it could fester or was such a poor manager that she was completely oblivious to it.

We’re few months into the year and I’m already bored, not because I don’t enjoy being a Nigerian, but because the usual bloated news of corruption in government seem not to recede despite boasts of transparency.

The conflicting financial claims of NNPC, CBN and the Ministry of Finance over kerosene subsidy are just enough to get one bored. I believe the truth should be blown out in the bright light of day for Nigerians to know the real statistics, but because the political climate is sentimental, critical discussion about it will of course attract unnecessary bashing from government attack dogs. I’m sure Abati, Gulak, Okupe and Metuh will rush to press to defend their pay master – not the country.

We continually accommodate and relish the political point in our country where disgusting policies, news, pronouncements and decisions are given a delight. A point when questions for financial accountability draw up political “bad belle”, where partisans run to the media just to kill a story or raise dust to gain political advantage.

Surely, something is rotten in the NNPC and the Minister of Petroleum, Alisson Madueke either participated in it, created the environment in which it could fester or was such a poor manager that she was completely oblivious to it.

It becomes more worrisome that the well educated, proclaimed, celebrated and exalted minister of finance and the coordinating minister of the economy of the most populous black nation on earth could not understand the scenarios of how money flew in the winds that she had to call for a transparent forensic expert. Well for her, her current job is said to be a mission to realize some of IMF and World Bank’s policies that is considered alien to Nigeria’s growth.

Now, the issue here is primarily for Nigerians. They are the ones who would feel the joy or pains of the economy’s growth or decline. This is a scandal, no matter how words are used to paint the “missing” funds, it is just one of the many that had befallen this present administration and what the scandal portends for the rest of us is strictly about 2015 and the fact that President Goodluck Jonathan is at least, seen as a promising PDP candidate for the presidency.

The APC has promised change and the question I have is “Change” into what or Change of what? On the other hand, the ruling party still talks subtly about “continuity” the battle of who to continue with has so far torn the party almost into shreds but the momentum of “old soldier never die” is perhaps sustaining them. Less I forget, “Continuity of what? For many of those who see 2015 as a change election, finding an anti-Jonathan may seem lucrative but we must realize that our politics must go beyond sentiment and be focused on germane issues of national concern.

To my taste, the level of corruption in government is utterly inconsistent with the dignity expected of the presidency. I am only one vote but I have a voice and I have a right to air it.

First, I think it is appropriate for the presidency to respect the institution called government and permit transparency in the inquiries into what went wrong with the kerosene subsidy. We have had alleged corrupt cases swept under political carpets and some subjected to numerous committees, there is no doubt that this will follow suit no matter the level of the journalistic and legislative investigations looking into what happened just to help clear the dust.

Gaining advantage politically is about performance and the president is expected to frighten progressives with outstanding performances and not by going to places of worship to lure religion into critical political decisions. Reputation is built by integrity and not by media announcements smoothly prepared to sound good to the ears without physical manifestations.

For instance, how does a government attract trust and respect when it is exposed that revelations indicated that the regulatory agencies were subsidizing the importation of kerosene contrary to a presidential directive stopping it. Now the excuse by the minister of petroleum is that such directive was not backed by a gazette -does that then give room to illegality? She of course backed up the action by affirming that such action should be left for the court to decide. Apart from the former, it was also discovered that the product was not being sold at the approved pump price of N50 per litre and she came up painting us a picture that the masses should be grateful that the directive is not complied with because it would have caused untold hardship.

Now, I sometime wonder if government is about the people or about those in the privileged positions. With boast of vast education that some of these ministers claim, inquiries into exposed financial corruption, diversion or misappropriation should ordinarily not be a source where the governed will be kept abreast of what is happening in a nation they belong to, pay tax to, live in and protect. The people deserve to know what is going on in government at all times and informations should not be kept with secrecy for no reason than pure selfish ones.

It is time that some of these politicians wake up and realize that governance is not for the lily livered. Perhaps the realization will dawn a moment when the governed stop looking unto these politician as messiahs. It is in this part of the word we thank, appreciate, praise and celebrate governors, senators, ministers and the president for doing works they are ordinarily elected to do.

Democracy is said to be a government of the people, by the people and for the people. Politicians too often bend this collective tenet for power. They believe that it is they who possess power, rather than the people who elected them. In their mighty imaginations, the people are expected to worship them even when the people’s tax is used to keep the state running.

There are lives hanging in the balance of the decisions made or not made by those in powers and its effects have serious consequences. Without any doubt, those with the most to lose as a result of a poor policy move are the governed that are sometime referred to as “masses” or “ordinary people”.

In a year we have been asked to celebrate and not mourn the millennial amalgamation of the Southern and Northern protectorate, the place of everyone in that marriage must be well defined and such should start by forcing politicians to remember, with as much force and fervor that they are servants, not rulers. The fact that Dr. Okonjo Iweala is opportuned to be a coordinating minister of the economy, a position forced on Nigerians for no just cause, does not confirm her as the best economist blessed with such wisdom to guide our economy out of the woods.

The core of governance should be the overwhelming desire to see that others are treated fairly and dealt with honestly. It is not about running to the south west and North East to pay homage to religious and traditional leaders all because of a need to appease for 2015 – these leaders are not fools!

Everything is politicized from our economy, institutions, infrastructure, morals, values and social life. Regardless of their politics, the vast majority of Nigerians should meet, speak up and act of their own accord and not in concert with a group whose selfish ambitions knows no bound.

Now, what assures a pronounced change is a genuine course of action that is devoid of sentiment for a replacement at all cost. Without deviation on the issues of national concern, rooting for a coffin to nail Goodluck Jonathan should not be the agenda for a government change. 2015 should be about issues and policies.

Continuity or change should be determined by policies which drives an agenda of equality for all and before the Okonjonomics, Oduahviation and Allisonleum drives us and the economy crazy, the progressive will do better by outlining a better road map to governance than engaging in unproductive arguments.

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This article was published with permission from Abusidiqu.com

 

Op-ed pieces and contributions are the opinions of the writers only and do not represent the opinions of Y!/YNaija.

One comment

  1. Okonjo-Iweala means so many things to so many people. But an unbiased analyses of this great woman will reveal that she is different from the rest. I’m really impressed with the proposal she put forward during her appearance before the House of Reps. Her request for an independent audit of NNPC is perfect.

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