Nigeria Democracy Watchtower: WHY I HATE GEJ: THE UNOFFICIAL CONFESSION OF EHL ROOFAI

Nigeria Democracy Watchtower: WHY I HATE GEJ: THE UNOFFICIAL CONFESSION OF EHL ROOFAI

WHY I HATE GEJ: THE UNOFFICIAL CONFESSION OF EHL ROOFAI

I have just learnt that all those who attempted to bury truth in shallow graves of hate ended up dancing naked in the market square. Even in my well-starched caftan, my two unemployed daughters are ashamed of my macabre dance steps. I am afraid that they would commit suicide if they see me dance naked in either Garki or Wuse market in Abuja, especially now that we are approaching 2015. I love my two unemployed daughters but will be ready to dance naked in the market square if that would chase GEJ out of Aso Rock in 2015.

Unknown to very many persons, there is a big difference between political opposition and ventilation of hatred. For many years now, I have been hiding behind political opposition to deface anything that has the mark of GEJ on it. This is because I hate him with so much passion. The problem I am having is that the more I hate him, the heavier the burden of guilt and shame on my battered conscience.

My sound bites and threads on facebook and twitter are only a small measure of my hatred for GEJ. I hate to call that Niger Delta fellow president. I have no iota of regard for him. This is why I always put aside decorum and use foul language whenever referring to him. I once called him a scumbag and some of my well-mannered admirers got angry and deserted me. I do not care about how anyone feels concerning the way I treat or address GEJ. For me, he is not worth the feces of an almajiri. Many people do not understand that almajiris are tools in the hands of most northern elites, including me. GEJ has refused to dance to the drumming of the northern oligarchy, otherwise known as the cabal. We would therefore continue to oppose him as long as he remains adamant.  

My hatred for GEJ started in 2007. As an over ambitious young man, I had wanted to succeed my former boss, popularly known as Obijay. To win his heart, I ensured that all his desires, except the third term project came to pass. I worked against the third term project because I was in a hurry to be president too. To achieve this dream, I did so many abominable things, ranging from betrayal to blackmail. Among them all, Ah Tea Coup and Owe The Lee suffered the most. I am using this medium to beg for their forgiveness. Sadly, they have been venting their anger on GEJ, an innocent and lucky fellow from the creeks of Bayelsa State.

Ree Bad Do was a willing tool in my hands. I dictated who to attack and who to spare. Initially, Obijay was oblivious of my self-serving clandestine scheming. I had made him to believe that I was working hard to perpetuate him in office for another four years while the opposite was the case. To be frank, I respect Obijay for his serene spirit. He can sit on thorns and still beam smiles at you. He never betrayed any emotions even after learning of my treachery. Obijay turned my cunning into absolute foolishness. He waited until the last minute before punishing me for my duplicity. He went on to pick the former Katsina State governor, the late Umaru Musa Yar’Adua to succeed him. I was so livid with anger that I nearly drowned in the pool of envy. As if that was not bad enough, Obijay waded through the muddy swamps of the oil rich Niger Delta region to pick GEJ, who as deputy governor, and later governor of Bayelsa State, I gave no regard. This is my character. I am a very arrogant person. I am the most intelligent person in Nigeria. We actually need the most intelligent person to be president of this country. Do not mind my support for Boo Ha Ree. He is not intelligent enough to lead a country. Whether he becomes president or not, I will expose him if fails to do my bidding. It is good to work with people you can blackmail for personal gains. This is one of the sources of my wealth.

Power is sweeter than honey and stronger than alcohol. I have tasted and enjoyed power in both military and democratic dispensations. For now, I am like fish out of water. As an Ijaw man, I had expected GEJ to know what it means for a fish to be out of water. This is the crux of my anger. GEJ actually forced me to join forces with his haters.

Those who know me closely can attest to the fact that I dislike Boo Ha Ree; a hypocrite and dictator, who rolled out tanks to overthrow the Sha Ga Ree led democratic government about three decades ago. I have made several scathing remarks about him in the past. I volunteered to join forces with Boo Ha Ree just to bring GEJ down. I was therefore glad when he threatened to make Nigeria ungovernable if he failed in his second gun-less coup. A dictator is always a dictator. He went on to dictate to insurgents how to destroy Nigeria. Thousands of innocent persons have been killed and properties worth billions of Naira destroyed. If the Pee Dee Pee actually wants to win the 2015 presidential elections, they should pray that Boo Ha Ree emerges as the flag bearer of Ay Pee See. His Bo Co Aram link would be a big minus for the party.

Those who have been following political developments in the country will agree with me that my reactions to the activities of Bo Co Aram and other insurgents have been more of tacit support. This is because I am a supporter of every effort that would hurt GEJ politically. Bo Co Aram Haram has indeed been a thorn in the flesh of GEJ. I am also giving moral support to the Nor Tan Elders Four Rooms in its religious quest to chase GEJ out of Aso Rock and return power to the north in 2015. Should this happen, I am going to be a major beneficiary. This was exactly the same game I played during the Ab Do Sa La Me administration and became the invisible 2ic in Obijay’s government.

I have stated earlier that I am an over ambitious fellow. I can be unreasonable when I want something. This was why I failed woefully in all my briefs in the Obijay administration. Ordinarily, people are supposed to avoid me. It is just that politicians need people like us to help tie some loose ends.

Unlike most government officials, I do not steal directly from public treasury. In my peculiar style, I give undue favour to individuals and corporate bodies that know how to tell me “thank you.” This was how I made so much money as an accidental public servant. Most of the controversial decisions I took while in office were because of this. I do not have any regrets. After all, I have so many bills to settle. One particular bill that drains me is the largesse I appropriate to my mistresses, especially the married ones. In case you do not know, some other GEJ haters in the corridors of power are guilty of climbing adult trees.  

Because of the high level of hatred I have for GEJ, I criticize whatever he does, even when the occasion does not demand so. Take the case of the declaration of State of Emergency in Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe. It was clearly a good decision. All the opposition parties, excepting Ay See Enn supported the presidential action but I wept so profusely while the people of Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe were clapping for GEJ. With similar unpatriotic actions, I was able to fool several unsuspecting Nigerians in the past. I have succeeded in making many Nigerians see GEJ as a weak and unintelligent person. In real fact, we do not need a strong president. Obijay was a strong president and yet, Nigeria did not see the moon. What we actually need is patriotism on the part of political leaders at all levels.

I do not believe in patriotism. This is why I am supporting Ay Pee See with all my soul. According to a party chieftain, Ay Pee See backed Ah May She just to disgrace GEJ during the NGF election. Some major partners that formed Ay Pee See have also been supporting Bo Co Aram to achieve the same aim. They forgot that genuine political opposition does not seek to disgrace an incumbent president. This is why they will never win the Nigerian presidency for a very long time to come.

Democracy is not all about disgracing political opponents. The disgracing of GEJ has not put food on the table of any Nigerian. In the same vein, disgracing GEJ will promote unity, peace, and security in Nigeria. Bill Clinton created 14 million jobs. This feat was not achieved by disgracing anybody. It explains why my two daughters are still unemployed. Some of the things Ay Pee See are doing amounts to sabotage. In most developed climes, the support major Ay Pee See kingpins are giving to insurgents could be interpreted as treasonable felony. Let them thank God that GEJ is not like Obijay.

Some prominent figures in Ay Pee See believe the late president Yar’Adua sacrificed too much for peace and economic survival of Nigeria. Bo Co Aram is therefore an attempt to recoup what some northern elites claim their region has lost due to the amnesty programme for Niger Delta militants. This was the reason behind recent agitations that the federal government offer amnesty Bo Co Aram members too. This is a top secret we have been hiding from Nigerians. Ay Pee See will crumble if the masses get to know the underlying cause of insecurity in the north. Letting Nigerians know this will make it impossible for Boo Ha Ree to move freely in the North Central, North East, and South-East geo-political zones of the country.

Furthermore, there is so much poverty in the north because we, the elites from the region want it to be so. If poverty is reduced among northerners, our influence on the masses will be weakened. Quality education is the most viable platform to fight ignorance and poverty. This is why we have been resisting every attempt by GEJ to reform the Alimajiri system. Nigerians will recall how governor Ah Lee You, one of the few Ay Pee See sympathizers in Pee Dee Pee challenged Day Veed Mack on the Alimajiri issue. Any attempt by anybody to liberate these alimajiris would be viewed as an attack on our culture.

I detest people, especially governors who indulge in anti-party activities. Governors are supposed to be honourable men. Why should any governor on the platform of the ruling Pee Dee Pee support Ay Pee See cry foul when they are suspended? Are they not aware that it is immoral for any politician to live the life of a mole? They should simply pack their loads and leave the Pee Dee Pee quietly if they are not comfortable. In other words, it is seditious for politicians to sip fruit juice in the day and suck blood at night. Both witches and angels fly. Witches are not supposed to fly like angels. If caught while doing so, they would accuse GEJ of using EFCC to witch hunt them. I am yet to know of any country where angels were hunted. That is why in English language, we have “witch hunt” but no word or phrase like “angel hunt.” It is only witches that are hunted.  

Only recently, GEJ scored a massive political point against Ay Pee See. After instigating the crisis in the northern part of the country, we used our agents in government to make GEJ declare a State of Emergency. You will recall that sometime in 2010, GEJ told the whole world that there were Bo Co Aram sympathizers in government. Many did not believe him but he was right. The plan was to use them to mount pressure on GEJ to declare a State of Emergency, relieving all elected and political appointees of their jobs. We would have hurriedly mobilized some almajiris and other brainwashed elements to unleash violence on security personnel and properties of mostly southerners in the northern part of the country if he fallen for our trap and suspended the democratic structure in the affected states. Like his name, GEJ was too lucky. Instead of turning against GEJ as we planned, political leaders in those three states now see him as a good leader. We are very disappointed because peace is gradually returning to the north.

The Ay Pee See had intended to use insecurity in the north as a major campaign plank to discredit GEJ and chase him out of Aso Rock in 2015. We were ready to cut our nose in order to spite our face. Now that the Boko Haram option has crumbled, our next bet is to file behind the NEF. Its leader is very bold. He is doing a very nice job. The problem however is that he lacks tact and restraint. Personally, I do not care even if the activities of the NEF lead to Nigeria’s disintegration. I will simply relocate with my immediate family to Europe or America and leave my wretched northern brothers and sisters to clean the rubbish that will arise from our political rascality. This was what I did after the painful emergence of Yar’Adua. I will do it again if the NEF plunges this country into unnecessary crisis before, during, or after the 2015 presidential elections.

   

To be honest, GEJ has done well, considering the amount of mess he inherited. The problem is that I am forbidden from acknowledging this in public. If I do, he will contest and win the 2015 presidential elections with ease. I am ready to fight GEJ, even if it means breaking the cord that holds the various ethnic nationalities in the country together. This is one reason I said I am not a patriot even though progressives are supposed to be patriotic in character.

You will also recall that I complained recently at a public function concerning the plight of my two unemployed daughters. The truth is that I deliberately prevented them from working so that I can use it to campaign against GEJ in 2015. Nigerians know the important positions I occupied in Obijay’s government. Just a phone call can get any of my children well-paid jobs in any part of the country. Is it compulsory that every person look for employment? Some of the persons looking for job can actually create jobs and employ others. I can afford to open businesses for my two unemployed daughter. My action can be likened to the story of a witch in my village who killed his own son and shed drums of crocodile tears.  

A day after I shed crocodile tears about the unemployment setback of my two daughters, one of them explained to me how I committed a big blunder. She pointed out that their being unemployed is a huge indictment on the Ay Pee See. According to her, I would have scored some political points if any of the Ay Pee See governors had offered them jobs. She was right. Her younger sister went further to say she was tied of my hypocritical lifestyle. According to her, my abysmal failure in government is indirectly responsible for the high rate unemployment in the country. She was right. Had I been successful with the privatization programme under my supervision, the issue of unemployment would have been drastically reduced by now. My daughter concluded by arguing that I do not have any moral ground to criticize GEJ. Even though, I disagreed with her opinion, I knew inside of me that she was right. My only happiness is that Nigerians are so naïve. If not so, somebody like me is supposed to be stoned for criticizing GEJ. I just hope they would be naïve until after the 2015 presidential elections.   

Governor Ah Lee You told GEJ recently that he was only making noise (causing confusion) to attract attention. This is a very big lie. Governor You Good Da knows him too well. Ah Lee You is not a servant leader. You Good Da has sworn never to attend any meeting of the Northern States Governors’ Forum again because of the presence of dishonorable members. He believes that as governors, they are supposed to be upright in conduct. You Good Da is pained that 19 northern governors would agree on something only to have some dishonorable members rebel against reason. I am more honorable than Ah Lee You and co that speaks from both sides. I will accordingly seize fire as soon as GEJ arranges something for me.

I know the two champions of the opposition very closely. They all have something to do with Boo- jeering, hissing, and hooting. The truth is that they have nothing better to offer. Boo Ha Ree is a dictator with bias for ethnicity and religion. Apart from being a political entrepreneur, Tea Nu Boo is a civilian model of a dictator. He imposed candidates on Ay See Enn to enable him monitor his political investments. That is why Far Shore Lar has achieved far more than he has. Have Nigerians forgotten that Tea Nu Boo once instigated a move to impeach Far shore Lar? It was simply because of poor returns on investment.

Finally, I wish governor Ah May She good luck in his fight against the Pee Dee Pee. He should however forgive me if he fails. My worry is that I will miss his brown envelopes and free flights in his controversial jet. In addition to Tea Nu Boo, his godfather, I am the other person that encouraged him to take on GEJ. Many have forgotten his godfather’s relationship with Sir Lar Me. I pity O May Hear.

I have assured Ah May She that GEJ might win the battle but he will lose the war (election). My grandfather has told me that it is easier to make a party lose an election as a member. This is the only reason Ah May She is fighting the battle of his life to remain in Pee Dee Pee. Is this not a satire? It is!

ACN: How not to oppose

Political opposition is an essential component of every democratic society. Opposition parties help to make the leadership institution competitive, thereby contributing to the acceleration of the rate of development. As a practice, opposition parties are supposed to offer superior alternatives that will help improve the wellbeing of citizens in a defined society. No matter how acceptable a ruling political party may be, the important place of the opposition is neither discarded by parties outside power nor ignored by the incumbent administration. 

Due to sheer lack of knowledge of the workings of opposition politics, most political oppositions in developing countries have never grown beyond mere suspicions and insult of incumbent political leaders. For instance, Mallam El Rufai was widely reported to have called President Jonathan a scumbag. Is this political opposition? When they fail to gain power, frustration sets in. This is quickly followed by sabotage in some cases and incitement of the electorates in others. A frustrated politician is worse than a terrorist. The post-election violence in 2011 and current security challenges in the northern parts of the country are closely linked to the activities of the opposition. 

Owing to the poor political culture of the opposition, they resorted to cutting their own noses in order to slight Nigeria’s face. This was part of a grand design to unsettle the presidency of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan. Unfortunately for them, the conspiracy snowballed into a monster they could not tame after their treachery started hunting them. They quickly resorted to using the mess they have created as a platform with which to wrest power from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). This led to serious security challenges in the northern part of the country. Scores of people, properties, and businesses were targeted by insurgents.  

This precarious security situation was worsened by the ferocious desire of a section of northern elite to take back the Nigerian presidency by any means possible. It explains the initial lukewarm attitude of some northern state governors in the fight against terror in their areas of administration. The opposition, notably ACN quickly took advantage of this development to gather woods to nail Goodluck Jonathan’s coffin. The ACN was buoyed by the demeanor of some PDP governors who openly dined with the opposition in order to advance their personal interests.

Owing, perhaps to the activities of fifth columnists in the presidency, the decision by the federal government to declare a State of Emergency in some northern states was leaked to the public well ahead of the official proclamation by the President Goodluck Jonathan on the 16^th of May, 2013.  As expected, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) was the first to oppose the idea, not necessarily for the good of the nation, but simply to mislead unsuspecting Nigerians of northern extraction.

Immediately after the president made the declaration, which affected Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe; the ACN responded quickly by urging the National Assembly not to support it. To their shame, the NASS took side with the presidency. By this decision, the NASS has proven that not everything that comes out of the opposition is messianic. In a statement by its spokesman, Alhaji Lai Mohammed before the NASS debate, the ACN had said that the decision of the president lacked “original thinking.” What is the “original thinking” as it concerns State of Emergency? Dismantling all political structures in the states affected by the State of Emergency. In an ideal democratic setting, can this opinion be said to be superior to that of President Jonathan?

It is very sad that the opposition, out of frustration has now resorted to pushing the president to put on military uniforms. This is most unexpected of an opposition that claims to have a better heart than the ruling PDP. The governors of Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe have all come out to support the State of Emergency because they are the ones wearing the shoes. They are therefore in a better position to either accept or reject the presidential declaration of State of Emergency in their states. The question on the lips of many Nigeria now is: why is the ACN crying more than the bereaved? The answer is simple. They are desperate and want to have power by all means. The ACN should not take Nigerians, especially those from the northern axis for fools.

It is worthy of note that ACN is a major partner in the yet to be registered All Progressive Congress (APC). Many Nigerians now believe that the poor quality opposition by the ACN has destroyed the foundation of the mega opposition party. There is no way it can be repaired. The CPC and ANPP are now standing on the side of truth. It is now very clear that all the ACN is interested in is grabbing power and not how the people feel. Nobody who has suffered loss of lives, investments, or properties due to the actions of insurgents in the north will oppose the declaration of State of Emergency in that part of the country. The actions of ACN have shown that it hates the truth. A party that hates the truth cannot defend the electorates.

BABANGIDA ALIYU: MISSING THE CORE ELEMENT OF A SERVANT-LEADER

In all ideal societies world over, political leaders function as servant-leaders so that they can effectively serve the sacred interests of the electorates. Genuine servant-leaders in the corridors of power are easily identified through the quality of their thoughts and actions. A true servant-leader is one that would always put common interest above personal and sectional concerns. Studies have shown that in most multi-tribal societies like Nigeria, only God-fearing leaders have been able to summon the rare courage of placing the common interests of society ahead of sectional inclinations. As governor of Niger State, Mua’zu Babangida Aliyu is a national leader and therefore has an irrevocable obligation to champion only causes that would help heal the nation’s many democratic sores. One of these sores is tribalism. Without downplaying tribal sentiments, democracy would be unable to grow beyond its infancy in Nigeria.

Immediately after his assumption of office in May 2007, Governor Babangida Aliyu won the hearts of many when he chose to be addressed as “Chief-Servant” in the place of “His Excellency”, which has become fashionable among state governors in Nigeria. Recent happenings have however shown that the decision of the number one citizen of Niger State to be addressed as the “Chief Servant” does not go beyond merely emphasizing the fact that political leaders are messengers of the electorates.

On several occasions, Babangida Aliyu has acknowledged God as the custodian of power. He believes in the teaching that it is God that chooses leaders. This belief validates the popular opinion that left with men, it would have been impossible for a minority to be president of Nigeria. Only recently, the Talban Minna confessed that going by human arrangements, the northern ethnic bloc was expected to occupy the Nigerian presidency from 2007 to 2015, but a superior divine interjection changed the whole plan following the unexpected death of Alhaji Musa Yar’Adua. Though, Yar’Adua, the Mutawallen Katsina did not die because nature wanted to use it to end tribal-based politics in Nigeria, it nevertheless provided an important opportunity for the political class to do away with ethnic sentiments in choosing leaders in Africa’s largest democracy. Sadly, Babangida Aliyu has rather chosen to use this rare occasion to pursue sectional agendas that may plunge Nigeria deeper inside the slurs of hate and disunity.

Babangida  Aliyu’s    recent outburst, which seeks to stop President Jonathan from going for a second term, has once more brought to the fore questions about the essence of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF). Personally, I feel the NGF has lost its salt. It has sadly turned out to be a platform to disparage the presidency. Even if President Jonathan had signed an agreement with PDP governors to do just one term, he should not have attempted to use petrol to douse the “tribal” fire ravaging the nation.

For now, two pregnant questions are begging for urgent answers. One, is the purported agreement between President Jonathan and PDP governors consistent with the laws of Nigeria? Secondly, between legislators and the governors, who are the genuine representatives of the people? The second question seeks to establish who between the two parties has constitutional recognition as representatives of the people in a presidential democracy. Only the true representatives of the people can negotiate on behalf of the people. More than that, Babangida Aliyu is a member of a political party. He should therefore know when, where, and how to ventilate his anger. This is one core character of a genuine servant-leader.

Furthermore, it has been accepted worldwide that wisdom and loyalty are the signatures of true patriots. I do not see any atom of wisdom or trace of party loyalty in Babangida Aliyu climbing up the rooftop to shout concerning an internal issue that was consummated behind the curtains. He has not told Nigerians what the governors benefited from the terms of the agreement with the president. All he is concerned about is for the presidency to return to the north. It speaks volumes of how dangerous it is to place the burden of national leadership on the heads of sectional apologists. One can imagine what would have become of Nigeria if the Senate President, David Mark were not a true patriot. The invocation of the “Doctrine of Necessity” following the protracted absence of the ailing President Yar’Adua was clearly a product of wisdom. Above all, Mark demonstrated that he was a loyal party man.

In multi-tribal societies like Nigeria, everything possible is done to promote unity, peace, security, and development. This was why many countries, including Nigeria have had to fight civil wars. For people with diverse orientations to live peacefully, sacrifices are inevitable. In the light of this, can Babangida Aliyu and his co-travelers come out boldly to say that of Nigeria’s fifty-three years as an independent nation, the north has sacrificed too much for the unity of Nigeria? The time has come for Nigerians to start separating between true patriots and mere pretenders. Nigeria cannot afford another civil war rooted in narrow tribal sentiments. By all standards, the attempt by some political actors under the platform of All Progressive Congress (APC) to wrest power from the ruling PDP is very much safer than blowing tribal trumpets.

Let me also remind Babangida Aliyu that Nigerians of northern extraction are now wiser and would definitely resist the old order where a few privileged individuals from the region promote parochial sentiments in order to win the sympathy of the unsuspecting masses only to abandon them afterwards to pursue their personal interests. This, best explains why despite the fact that Nigeria has had more northern heads of government than the south, the north has experienced very little infrastructural development. Babangida Aliyu and his like-minds should humble themselves and drink from the cup of patriotism. Nigeria needs builders- not bulldozers.

HOW MANY CUBES OF SUGAR DOES SANUSI LICK A DAY?

Nigerians are beginning to wonder the secret behind the ease with which the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, Mallam Lamido Sanusi Lamido gets the government to endorse some of his unpopular fiscal policies. These policies are quite good but deployed improperly. It can be likened to a man that put a cart ahead of his horse and except the former to do magic. 

The fundamental thing any economist or fiscal policy formulator should do to help Nigeria get back on her feet is to design a socio-economic framework that will address issues of slow economic growth. If our national economy is built on a sound fiscal outline, economic growth will be rapid and predictable. It is pertinent to note that problems of infrastructural decay, unemployment, poverty, and insecurity cannot be addressed by the major fiscal policies being deployed by the CBN. For unknown reasons, Sanusi has been concerned with “copying and pasting” fiscal policies that have been successful in advanced economies. In designing fiscal policies; the purchasing power of citizens, population size, state of public infrastructure, literacy level, culture, and religion are taken into account. That is the reason why a fiscal policy that is successful in country A may not do well in country B.  

For instance, Sanusi championed the removal of fuel subsidy simply because countries such as the United States, Britain, Germany, and Canada had done same in the near past. He however refused to consider the fact that citizens of these countries earn far above the $2 a day that over 70% of Nigerians are worth. Nigerians would be too glad to buy a liter of fuel for N150 if public and private sector workers are paid the equivalent of what their contemporaries earn in those countries Sanusi always site as examples. 

Sanusi and the minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala sweet-talked the federal government to remove fuel subsidy based on pressure from western-backed World Bank and IMF. Ironically, the same west that is against fuel subsidy in Nigeria is subsidising critical sectors of their economies such as agriculture, housing, and transportation. Who is fooling who?

Subsidy on petrol was eventually removed despite the outcry by Nigerians. Today, the purchasing power of the 70% of Nigerians living below poverty line has been weakened to a point where life no longer makes sense. Those of us that were against the removal of fuel subsidy did so based mainly on facts. In order to hoodwink government, the fundamental issues we raised were ignored while we were labeled stooges of the cabal milking the nation dry in the name of fuel subsidy. How can I be a stooge of the cabal and still call for the investigation of the fuel subsidy scheme? Like millions of other Nigerians, the only way I benefit from the fuel subsidy is the money I save each time I buy petrol for my car or generator.  

Right from the beginning, I have accused both Sanusi and Okonjo-Iweala of leaving substance to pursue inconsequential issues. My argument has been that the best way to remove fuel subsidy is to make our refineries operate at optimum capacity so that nobody will import petrol and demand for subsidy. Sanusi and Okonjo-Iweala were clearly afraid of the cabal. It was for this reason they went for the removal of subsidy; leaving the fate of 70% Nigerians living below poverty line at the mercy of unpatriotic corrupt importers. Everybody, including Sanusi and Okonjo-Iweala knew that the removal subsidy on petrol was anti-people. Instead of sweet-talking government to make our refineries work, they chose to serve the interests of western democracies. 

Even the man in the village knows that Nigeria was not consuming the quantity of petrol that was being projected in government circles. Sanusi cannot claim to be unaware that a gang of unpatriotic Nigerians with their foreign collaborators were sabotaging our refineries in order to promote the import culture. But for the eye-opening work done by the House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee on Fuel Subsidy headed by the now disgraced Farouk Lawan, the clan of subsidy thieves would have remained unknown to Nigerians. The committee set up by Okonjo-Iweala was a face-saving effort.  

The other “cart before the horse” thing the CBN governor did had to do with the cashless policy. There is no doubt about the fact that the cashless policy is good. The truth however remains that Nigeria is not yet ripe for it because of poor rural penetration owing to infrastructural issues. In this regard too, he was able to sweet-talk the federal government to obtain approval despite massive opposition by Nigerians. 

The latest of them is the planned introduction of N5,000. Clearly, this development does not in any way give credence to the cashless policy being promoted by the CBN. A country that is desirous of pursuing a cashless policy has no reason to bother about the desire of people or corporations to hold or move cash in large quantities. With the full commencement of the cashless policy, no individual or organisation will have the need to hold or move large cash about. It is clear that current anti-graft policies are making it difficult for people to launder proceeds of corruption through the banks. The only way open to the few corrupt people among us is to keep the raw Naira at home since doing so in foreign currencies poses some inconveniences in terms of spending. This could perhaps be the major reason why the CBN has come to the aid of corrupt Nigerians by raising the holding value of the Naira. Why should people prefer keeping money at home or in the office when we have banks all over the place?  

Apart from increasing the holding value of the Naira, there is practically nothing positive in introducing the N5,000 notes. It will rather cheapen the face value of the Naira. The ease with which Sanusi gets the federal government to endorse some of his fiscal policies is appalling. The question on the lips of millions of bewildered Nigerians is: how many cubes of sugar does Sanusi lick a day? His tongue is so sweet in the ears of the president.