How Technocrats Destroy Political Leaders

Owing largely to the abysmal failure of democratic political culture to rapidly improve the welfare of man and society especially in Africa, many have come to hate or distrust politicians with passion. A larger part of the African society now frame politicians as unreliable. Citizens now see politicians as a bunch of unpatriotic, selfish, greedy, and corrupt people. It is mainly for this reason that political leaders who are desirous of writing their names in gold invite tested technocrats to help manage critical sectors of state machinery. Unfortunately however, these technocrats have most times ended up performing far worse than politicians do. One general excuse they usually give for their appalling failure is lack of free hands to operate.

To be fair to political leaders that do not give these co-opted technocrats blank cheques to operate; most of them go into government without the slightest understanding of the workings and foundational essence of democratic governance. They forget that political leadership is far different from the conventional leadership culture. While the later is largely influenced by Naira and Kobo (urge to make profit), political leadership seeks to meet the diverse needs of the governed. Sometimes, this fundamental goal of democratic governance is achieved with state accounts in the red. It is in recognition of this fact that the concept of Foreign Reserves and Sovereign Wealth Fund became popular in many advanced democracies. The idea was to ensure that commercial concerns do not in any way deny citizens the good things of life. After all, democracy is all about the people.
It is not enough to flaunt tittles and labels as most of our professionals do. For a country like Nigeria where a greater percentage of her citizens are living below poverty line, common sense should tell us that our economic experts and fiscal policy formulators will need to be very creative to be able to design practicable fiscal templates that can effectively fight poverty. Somehow, the colourful debate that followed the federal government's decision to stop paying subsidy on imported petrol has brought to the fore one very sad fact: Our nation's economic experts and fiscal policy formulators are overpaid. This is because their output is far below what is expected of them. Apart from their being apathetic, they are clearly drained of practicable ideas to stimulate rapid socio-economic growth. What they do is to sit in front of internet-ready computers and copy the fiscal policies of developed countries. In doing this, they fail to realize that a lot variables such as population, technology, culture, literacy level, unemployment rate, and even religion influences the design and mode of deployment of fiscal policies. The truth is that a fiscal policy that is successful in Europe may not necessarily do well in Africa owing to several factors as enumerated above. Every country is therefore expected to study her peculiar situation and circumstances before designing appropriate fiscal policies to match.

The decision by the federal government to withdraw fuel subsidy is one of the fiscal policies erroneously copied from some developed countries. We must however not forget the fact that in those countries, the purchasing powers of citizens are strong enough to take care of their basic needs such as shelter, food, transport, health care, education, and socials. It is also necessary to point out that in the countries where our anti-subsidy apostles are drawing inspiration from, poverty level is clearly within the limits of a single digit. More than that, unemployment figures are tolerable and their public infrastructures are in excellent condition.
One question that readily comes to mind is: how much percentage of Nigerian workers are able to take care of the basic needs of their families from their legitimate income? Going by the statement of the governor of Nigeria’s Central Bank, Lamido Sanusi; only about 30% of Nigerians can take care of the basic needs of their families. What then happens to the remaining 70%? Your guess is as good as mine.
Like I have, and will continue to insist, President Goodluck Jonathan means well for Nigeria. Unfortunately, just as George Bush was stampeded by faulty intelligence report to invade Iraq in 2003; overzealous anti-subsidy apostles have cleverly misled President Jonathan to support the removal of fuel subsidy in 2012. I am very confident that my position will be vindicated in the very near future. All over the world, political leaders that are known to be very keen in making a difference were more prone to making errors of judgment. The situation is worse with leaders that are mostly surrounded by people who believe a coin has only one side. Of course, President Jonathan has many of them around him. The earlier he realizes this, the better for him and the Nigerian masses.

Apart from the conspicuous fact that Nigeria's present socio-economic framework is too weak to accommodate the pressure of fuel subsidy removal, my opinion is further strengthened by the shallow logic put forward by the two major anti-subsidy apostles: Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the minister of finance and economy and Lamido Sanusi, governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria. This duo will be quick to remind Nigerians that there is no fuel subsidy in Britain, United States, Germany, Spain Holland, and France. They have however deliberately refused to appreciate the fact that Nigerian workers do not earn as much as their contemporaries do in those named countries. Without doubt, Nigerians will accept to buy a liter of fuel for even N150 if public infrastructures are in excellent conditions and the salaries of public service workers are proportionate with what their contemporaries earn in Europe and America.

In fact, the most worrying aspect of the arguments in support of the removal of fuel subsidy has to do with how it will help curb cross-boarder smuggling of petroleum products and the curbing of corruption in NNPC. It is sad that both Okonjo-Iweala and Sanusi are convinced about the existence of corruption at the nation’s boarder posts and oil sector but not interested in going after those eating fat from it. The best they could do in fighting those stealing our common heritage is to punish the poor masses by increasing the price of petrol through the removal of fuel subsidy. Why are they afraid of the so-called "cabal" and not the masses? The masses are still largely ignorant. All of these must bother President Jonathan. This is because should anything funny happen today, both Okonjo-Iweala and Lamido Sanusi will be on the next flight to the headquarters of World Bank or IMF for immediate engagement. We should not forget our past too quickly.

While speaking at the 5th Annual Microfinance Conference and Entrepreneurship Award in Abuja, the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Lamido Sanusi informed the whole world that a staggering 70% of the Nigerian population is living below poverty line. It was therefore shocking when one heard the same Sanusi turn around to argue that 70% of poor Nigerians who are already living below poverty line could withstand a further weakening of their purchasing power when fuel subsidy is removed. Who is not aware that the removal of fuel subsidy will translate to an increase in the pump prices of petroleum products? In the same vein, the prices of goods and services that has direct or indirect link with petrol will jump. I do not know of any good or service in Nigeria that has no link with petrol.

To make the Nigerians look stupid, the anti-subsidy apostles have been arguing that the poor do not benefit from the fuel subsidy regime. My not having a car does not mean I will trek to the farm, office, market, hospital, school, or church. We all know that transporters fix their fares based on how much they buy petrol. I therefore consider it as an insult for anyone to argue that it is those who own jeeps and SUVs that enjoy the benefit of fuel subsidy. The rich actually enjoys more of the subsidy but the truth must not be sacrificed on the platter of insensitivity. They only want to play to the gallery by attempting to paint the picture that government is against Nigerians living above their income. Let me remind the anti-subsidy apostles that millions of hairdressers, bar owners, restaurateurs, taxi drivers, internet café owners, ferry operators, bakers, and technicians etc spread across the country all benefit from the fuel subsidy regime in their own little way.

With an increase in the pump price of petrol, the prices of goods and services will jump. This will force more Nigerians into poverty as their purchasing power will be weakened. Families that for instance survived on N10,000 monthly will need between N20,000 and N25,000 for same purpose. Those that are already deep inside the mud of poverty will in this circumstance have no better options than to either starve to death or take to crime or prostitution in order to survive. While governments in advanced countries are busy designing policies that will strengthen the purchasing power of their citizens, the direct opposite is the case in Nigeria.

No one is arguing the fact that money saved from the removal of fuel subsidy can be ploughed into creating new jobs. It will however turn out to be a case of one who cares more about quantity and not quality. Of what good is it for government to produce a poor and wretched working class? I am referring to a working class that cannot rely on their legitimate earnings to take care of the basic needs of their families. This is one reason why corruption is gaining ground in Nigeria. Apart from the unemployed, even the working class citizens are so poor that everybody wants to raise extra money to meet the basic demands of life. Corrupt practices are the usually the best bets.

Furthermore, let me remind the anti-subsidy apostles that the new roads, health care facilities, schools, and rail lines that will be built with proceeds saved from the removal of fuel subsidy will not offer free services. Frankly, these projects will make very little or no sense if the citizens are too poor to pay for the services they offer. I am challenging the governor of the Central Bank, Lamido Sanusi to tell Nigerians what it means to live below poverty line. He and his co-travelers believe a coin has only one side. That is the only reason why they can afford to reason the way they do. After all, they do not fuel their official jeeps and generators from their salaries.

Sanusi had last week warned the masses that Nigeria will collapse in two years if fuel subsidy was not removed. To me, this is the greatest lie of the century. The lie was only aimed at instilling fear and stampeding unsuspecting masses to surrender their conscience to a bunch of unfeeling technocrats that have cleverly misled the presidency to accept to remove fuel subsidy. Their real intention is to blindfold and rob poor Nigerian masses to pay a few rich ones like them in the corridors of power. I am convinced that they will not clamour for the removal of fuel subsidy if their salaries were between N18,000 and N50,000 monthly. 70% of Nigerians earn just this much. My only consolation is that the masses are no longer as ignorant as they were ten years ago. President Jonathan must not allow any person, no matter his or her pedigree to put a hedge between him and the electorates.

Without doubt, President remains the most widely accepted Nigerian head of government since independence. For the first time, Nigerians ignored religious, tribal, and party sentiments to vote for a man the electorates believe has answers to the problems of the country. Unfortunately, he has allowed some persons to poison the trust and confidence the masses had for him.

While the west, through the World Bank and the IMF will make us believe that subsidy regime is unhealthy, critical sectors of American and European economies are subsidized to protect their citizens. As you read this piece, the EU is subsidizing agriculture and fisheries. Other developed countries subsidize housing, health care, education, or transport. It is left for each country to choose critical areas to intervene. These interventions, in the form of subsidy are aimed at protecting the purchasing power of citizens.

History will hold the anti-subsidy apostles responsible if Nigerian masses are forced to go out on the streets to protest government’s insensitivity. With the little I know about Okonjo-Iweala and Sanusi; it will be difficult for them to swallow their pride. This is because they have invested the whole of their pride and ego in the subsidy campaign. The truth is that, Nigeria is bigger than every individual. I therefore urge them to make the noble choice by retracing their steps and join minds with the masses.

In the first place, we do not have any good reason to import fuel. The federal government, like is in other OPEC countries should ensure that our refineries are operating at maximum capacities. With this, the pump price of petroleum products will drop. At N65 per liter, there are already credible insinuations that Nigeria’s petrol is overpriced. Among all the OPEC countries, it is said that the pump price of petrol is highest in Nigeria. This has left a huge question mark on the mangers of our oil industry. While insiders will not want the president to give a thought to all of this information, he must not stop asking salient questions such as: why are our refineries not working at optimum capacities? Why is petrol cheaper in other OPEC countries? He can get genuine answers from his lieutenants. There is therefore the urgent need for him to assemble stakeholders from the private sector to proffer solutions to the lingering crisis bedeviling the nation’s oil sector.
In order not to see fuel subsidy removal as a do-or-die thing, government should look for alternative means of raising money to service its budget. It can do this by reducing the number, salaries and allowances of government officials and their over-bloated aides. In addition to strengthening the anti-corruption agencies, a Wealth Verification (WV) legislation should be put in place to compel citizen to disclose their sources of wealth. Whoever that wants to build or buy any property worth N5m and above should first be compelled by legislation to file documents with the anti-graft agencies detailing the sources of the fund. This will make the job of the anti-graft agencies easier.

While in the developed countries, the rich make major contributions to the development of national economy, same cannot be said of Nigeria. All of the nation's transformation agendas have been built on the frail backs of poor Nigerian masses. The time has come for the rich among us to contribute to the transformational agenda of the present administration. From henceforth, a 5% annual national development tax should be placed on every luxury car, water craft, or mansion costing N5m and above. Local and foreign air tickets and accommodation in 3/5 star hotels should also attract a 5% national development tax. Through this way, the wealthy among us can be specifically targeted to contribute to national development. I have no doubt that Nigeria will save more than N1.3 trillion annually if the above suggestions are embraced. Poor and unemployed Nigerian should be spared further hardship that will arise from the planned fuel subsidy removal. Those in government must learn how to appreciate the feelings of the masses.
In advising the president, co-opted technocrats must bear in mind all that were promised the electorates during the campaign season. In case they do not know, the president promised to stand with the masses-not the rich, Okonjo-Iweala, Lamido Sanusi, World Bank, or IMF. This is one simple way most technocrats destroy political leaders. We must not stand by and allow them destroy President Jonathan! If we do, we would end up hurting ourselves.

Dressing corruption in white linen

Never in the history of Nigeria has the fight against corruption been so fiercely fought like have been done in the last ten years. Despite this fact, only very little have been achieved by the two major anti-graft agencies- EFCC and ICPC. This is hugely due to the high amount of energy and craft deployed by the many apostles of corruption within and outside government. Unknown to many, corruption has almost become a national culture. Many Nigerians are also forced to see and take corruption as a source of livelihood. It is pertinent to point out that high level of unemployment has made the culture of corruption fashionable. There is therefore the important need for government to take the issue of unemployment very seriously.

To effectively tackle the problems of unemployment, government at all levels must do well to expand the economy by energizing the private sector to create many new jobs. This can be achieved through the deliberate reduction of the general cost of doing business, access to cheap business start-up capital with a friendly repayment plan, and the wooing of foreign investment among others.

There is no gainsaying that Nigeria has a robust market and variety of mineral resources that will easily attract foreign investors. Nevertheless, issues of stable power, security, effective transport infrastructure, and stable polity are critical factors in the global business community. It is recognized worldwide that only sound political leadership culture can promote a healthy business environment. This is what every investor- local or foreign look out for.

Unfortunately however, very sad realities in the nation’s polity have continued to pose a major threat to winning the confidence of foreign investors. Very few investors will be willing to risk their capital in a country where integrity and patriotism are relegated to the background of national culture. It is a very huge fact that the lack of integrity helps to blind public servants from seeing the evils of corruption. Also worthy of note is the fact that only unpatriotic leaders can afford to take undue advantage of their exalted offices to promote mainly their individual interests at the expense of the larger society choking in the cold hands of poverty.

No doubt, the business of law making is sacred. This is true to the extent that quality laws help put societies on the fast lane of socio-economic transformation. Ordinarily, legislators are treated with high level of regard in all democratic societies. This is however not so in Nigeria owing to very bitter incidents in the National Assembly in the last twelve years. Apart from the fact that many members snore through sittings, supposed honourable law makers have on several occasions engaged in physical assaults on each other right inside the hallowed chambers of the National Assembly. On one or more occasions, these contemptible incidents had resulted to injuries, hospitalization, and even death.

One of the greatest threats to Nigeria’s democracy is the several cases of corruption allegations against successive leaderships of the National Assembly since the nation returned to democratic political leadership in 1999. Allegations of corruption have always been the reason behind the frequent changes of leadership in both the lower and upper chambers of the National Assembly. This is most shameful and unacceptable in modern societies. It has no doubt rubbished our collective efforts as a nation aimed at winning the confidence and respect of members of the international community. Perhaps, this will help to explain why despite Nigeria’s huge market and variety of abundant natural resources, foreign investors have been reluctant to put their capital in the economy of the world’s most populous country of black people. This is a big indictment of past and present leaderships of the National Assembly. They have not been able to lay a solid foundation for an effective national transformation agenda.

Nigerians cannot continue to feign ignorance of the fact that our legislators have fallen short of global best practices. While in many countries, law makers are spurred by patriotic zeal to serve; Nigerian legislators seem to be ruled by their individual interests. That could be the only reason why they are not in any way bothered by the urgent need to legislate towards improving on power supply, transport infrastructure, health care, education, housing, security, employment, and national economic growth. Instead, they busy themselves with padding their individual pockets with outrageous allowances. This is nothing but dressing corruption with white linen. Their aim is to mislead Nigerians. A black cloth will remain a black cloth whether won to the farm, market, office, or funeral. In the same vein, corruption is corruption whether dressed with white linen called allowances.

Instead of the executive arm being a threat to our democracy, it is the legislature that Nigerians are worried about. The reason for this is not far fetched. Graft dressed in white linen has taken a whooping 25% of national budget. To make matters worse, the National Assembly have rubbished the necessity of the Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Allocation Committee (RMFAC) through its in-house mechanisms. The doctrine of checks and balance has been tilted in favour of the legislature. They have unlimited powers to decide what individual members take home as allowances. This could be the only reason why members of the National Assembly take home between N60m and N100m as allowances alone every quarter. They are also at liberty to borrow at will.

From the look of things, the task is too big for the executive arm of government alone. Nigerian masses will need to join forces with the executive to clip the overbearing wings of members of the National Assembly. The nation’s present economic realities do not support the outrageous salaries and allowances our legislators take home. It is therefore surprising that despite the revelation by the CBN governor, Mallam Sanusi Lamido that a whole of 25% of the nation’s budget was spent on the welfare of national law makers; efforts have never been made to correct the anomaly by the law makers themselves. The long suffering Nigerian masses had expected the law makers to show remorse and rush to “repentance” following the Sanusi “missile.”

As a nation, we do not need Prophet T.B. Joshua to prophesy that Nigerian masses are angry. If the leadership of the National Assembly is not prepared to begin the process of “unpadding” their pockets, those individual members with conscience should do the unusual by returning a minimum of 50% of their allowances to the federal treasury and earn the forgiveness of history. The “unpadded” funds should be added to the allocations of state governments. It will go a long way in helping to breach the gap that the N18,000 minimum wage law will cause many state governments.

NEED TO REJIG NIGERIA'S ANTI-CORRUPTION PROTOCOL

Corruption has been identifies as the mountain standing between Nigeria and her Promised Land. The prevalence of corruption has greatly discouraged the inflow foreign investments into the country. This is indeed a serious problem when viewed against the backdrop of the current economic order. It is necessary for our fiscal policy formulators and advisers to understand that Nigeria can only benefit from the culture of free market economy when the nation is able to win the confidence of the global business community. Unfortunately, Nigeria’s corruption and fraud index are still very high. This has discouraged many foreign corporations and institutions from trusting Nigerian citizens or investing in the country.

The bulk of whatever we still have as foreign investments in the country is tied strictly to the oil industry. Foreign investors still have some confidence in Nigeria’s petroleum sector because of its peculiar nature. In Nigeria, crude oil production and marketing is such that foreign investors have undue advantage over the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) mostly because of the nation’s poor technological state. This has afforded the joint venture partners the opportunity to dictate terms and conditions of joint venture activities. It is in this light that the local content policy of the federal government is most welcome. If properly monitored, Nigeria will save billions of dollars spent annually on the fabrication, installation, and maintenance oil industry utilities.

It is for all these reasons that the federal government has channelled huge material and human resources towards fighting corruption especially in the last ten years. Nevertheless, it would not be out of place to argue that not much have been achieved when viewed against the backdrop of the number of high profile corruption cases being unearthed daily by the nation’s anti-graft agencies. This sad development is enough reason for government to rejig the nation’s anti-graft protocol.

To a very large extent, current anti-corruption efforts are focused mainly on investigation, prosecution, and punishment of convicted offenders. Even at that, the logic surrounding punishment of persons convicted for corruption is faulty. There is no justification for giving equal punishment to persons that embezzled different amounts of money. Take the case of two men- one embezzled N10m and the other, N10b but were all sentenced to two years prison term. Apart from prescribing long prison terms (minimum of ten years), every N1m of illegally acquired money should attract additional 1 year prison term. Through this, the weight of punishment can make some meaning. The current system where someone will embezzle up to N10b and serve a mere two year jail term is an insult on the sensibilities of poor Nigerians. If given the opportunity, many poor Nigerians would be too willing to collect N10m and spend three years in prison in order to escape poverty.

Nigeria’s current anti-graft campaign can be likened to pursuing a policy of cure, as against that of prevention. Government should consider legislations that will encourage citizens to live within their income. This should be done putting in place legislation that will compel citizens to disclose sources of income to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before acquiring properties or investing up to N5m and above. Whoever that fails to do so should be punished with a one year jail term and also forfeit the said property or investment to the applicable tier of government where the source of illegal money is traced to. Apart from discouraging corruption, the work of the various security and anti-graft agencies will be made easier and more efficient.

Nevertheless, government must have to tackle the problems of poverty in the country. Ordinarily, Nigeria is too endowed to experience problems of poverty. The inability of government to fight corruption and distribute national wealth evenly is the fundamental causes of poverty in the country. National wealth can be distributed evenly by strengthening of the nation’s socio-economic framework. To achieve this, the organised private sector will have to be energised to stimulate rapid economic growth. This would require stable power, effective transport infrastructure, friendly tax regime, and access to long term credit facilities among others.

Furthermore, government must also diversify the economy by encouraging the agro-allied and solid minerals sectors. Apart from contributing to the nation’s foreign exchange earnings, millions of high-paying jobs will be created. Clearly, unemployment is a major source of poverty, malnutrition, crime, and insecurity in Nigeria.

There is no doubt that over 80% of Nigerian workers in both the public and private sectors cannot rely on their salaries for the feeding, housing, transportation, health care, and educational needs of their families. Like the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), affordable premiums can be set to enable Nigerian workers and their family access quality health care services, quality education to university level, and ability to own houses commensurate with their income. Of what necessity is work if one cannot rely on his income to take care of the basic needs of life?

Nigerians should not allow themselves to be deceived by charges of “political witch-hunting” levelled against the presidency by highly placed citizens facing corruption charges. Are we saying, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) should not investigate and charge to court those sharing different political opinion with the president even when there are enough evidences to do so? This is not the best way to fight corruption. Until they are convicted in a recognised law court, such persons remain innocent. They should therefore submit themselves for trial and sue government for damage if they are eventually acquitted.

My sympathy for these highly placed Nigerians accused of corruption is tied to the proof that they do not have confidence in the judiciary. From all indications, the Nigerian judiciary can be entrusted with the freedom of the innocent and punishment of the guilty. Let us join hands and make corruption unpopular in Nigeria.

AMNESTY IS NOT A MAGIC WAND

Nigerians should not shy away from saying the truth simply because our leaders hate hearing what is true. Only recently, the Senate President, David Mark revealed how much the ruling class abhor truth when he invested his integrity to argue that the international community should allow the nation’s leaders to do to the Nigerian masses whatever that pleases them. Mark’s unintentional confession is the truth about how much hatred Nigerian leaders have for the masses.

There is actually no reason why with four refineries, the world’s sixth largest producer of crude oil should rely on the importation of petrol, diesel, and kerosene for domestic consumption. It is an abomination that Nigeria is still grappling with the problem of regular power supply despite the abundance of natural gas and availability of associated technologies to stabilise the power sector.

A drive along the nation’s highways tells a pathetic story of failed leadership. Corruption has almost become a celebrated national tradition. Unemployment has reached the sky. Crime has become part of the Nigerian culture. The take home pay of the average Nigerian civil servant can hardly support a family of three- man, wife, and a child for just a week. The educational sector is in chaos. Certificates obtained from Nigerian universities are regarded as junk outside the shores of the country. The situation is worse with our primary and post primary schools that are mostly closed due to industrial actions buy teachers demanding for improved condition of service. Nigerians desirous of giving their children sound education are therefore compelled to look the way of neighbouring West African countries. Quality health care services are beyond the reach of average Nigerians. Despite all of these, we continue to pride ourselves as the Giant of Africa. We should bury our heads in shame. Don’t we know the abilities of true Giants?

To a very large extent, the Senate President thought Nigerian leaders can continue to fool the masses. It was for this simple reason he insinuated that Nigerians should be allowed to tackle their problems when the United State’s Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton told our leaders the home truth at a Town Hall meeting in Abuja. David Mark and PDP’s shallow reaction to America’s verdict on Nigerian leaders pointed clearly to a government that does not believe in accountability and the rule of law. A government can only be said to be accountable when it is able to provide answers to the needs of the masses. Accountability in governance does not merely mean providing details of revenue and expenditure.

Rule of law is to governance what food is to human beings. It therefore sounds funny when one hear government officials attempt to score cheap political gains for doing what is normal. It is like a father going to the market square to boast that he has provided breakfast for his children. There is no way an oil producing country that cannot provide basic social amenities such as electricity, portable water, health care services, jobs, good roads, affordable housing, petrol, kerosene, and diesel could be judged to uphold the principle of rule of law. This is because; security, law, and order are the fundamental laws of state. They form the foundation for peace. There cannot be peace in the midst of poverty and crime, which is mostly caused by the inability of government to provide the basic necessities of life for the citizenry.

As against David Mark’s argument, the issues of failed leadership in Nigeria cannot be left for Nigerians alone. The world is a global village. The problems of failed leadership in Nigeria will impact negatively on the international community. Hillary Clinton was only being proactive. Our leaders should rather be glad that Clinton has helped to illuminate the very dark paths of political leadership. Those that have taken the wrong path should retrace their steps quickly because the masses are hungry and angry.

The argument by David Mark that the United States should leave Nigeria for Nigerians is very unfortunate. It is fair enough that natives of Nigeria’s oil bearing communities are not toeing his line of argument by insisting that the rest of the country should not interfere in the affairs of the Niger Delta region. In that case, the Niger Delta people would have demanded for 100% derivation principle. But in relying on precedent, the Niger Delta people have merely demanded that Nigeria returns to the 1960 era when derivation was 50%. Instead of the federal government coming out to explain why it has refused to honour precedent, it has gone ahead to force the NDDC and Niger Delta Ministry on the people of the region. I believe strongly that David Mark’s angry reaction to Hillary Clinton’s criticisms of failed leadership in Nigerian would make many persons to drop the negative tag they had earlier on hanged on the necks of Niger Delta militants. This is because; it has become very clear that Niger Deltan militants love Nigeria far more than most of our leaders do.

I have always maintained that the offer of amnesty is fair in spirit but arrogant in nature. That is one reason why most militants have shunned the arms collection centres to negotiate their own choice of location of disarmament. By offering amnesty to the militants, President Yar’Adua has boldly accepted the fact that the Nigerian nation has been unfair to the Niger Delta people. Punishing these militants would therefore amount to double punishment. I salute the courage of the president as many have pressurised him to use the military to quell agitations by the Niger Delta people.

Like I have suggested in other forums; in finding solutions to the problems of militancy in the Niger Delta region, the federal government has put the cart before the horse. The genuine demands of the Niger Delta people have not been addressed. Right now, the success of the amnesty deal is being threatened by cases of doubt and suspicion. The offer of amnesty would have come after addressing the issues of fiscal federalism and injustice in the sharing of revenue from crude oil and natural gas. The Niger Delta people are well aware that when the nation’s super tribes were producing the natural resources that sustained the country’s economy, derivation was 50%. The question therefore on the lips of every Niger Deltan is: Why is it 13% now that the advantage has gone the way of minority tribes in the Niger Delta region?

For the oil based Nigerian economy to grow, there is an urgent need for peace in the Niger Delta. It is however unfortunate that both the federal and Niger Delta State governments are seeing the disarmament by militants as the foundation for peace and development of the region. If the truth must be said; then I would warn that Nigerians would be disappointed in the very near future if we see amnesty as a magic wand and ignore the fundamental issues that gave birth to agitation in the Niger Delta region. Justice and fair play in the sharing of revenue from oil and gas are the foundations on which amnesty should stand on. On the other hand; the federal government should make efforts to convince the Niger Delta people why it has refused to honour the 50% derivation precedent. Perhaps, the federal government has finally accepted the suggestion by Hon. Bala Ibn Na’Allah to end militancy by wiping out the entire Niger Delta region.

In blaming Niger Delta youths for their choice of militancy in seeking justice in the sharing of revenue from oil and gas, the presidency should accept the fact that government has made the culture of non-violent protest unattractive to Nigerians. The Advanced Learners’ Dictionary defines violence as, “an angry way of speaking or reacting.” Niger Delta youths had noticed that it has mostly been through industrial actions (an angry way of reacting) that NUPENG, ASUU, NMA, RATTAWU, PHCN, Police, and the Army have succeeded in forcing government to live to its obligation. That is to say, the Nigerian federal government has murdered her capacity to do any good thing voluntarily. Therefore, Niger Delta youths saw militancy (also an angry way of reacting) as the nearest thing to industrial action in their quest to right the grave injustice in the sharing of revenue from crude oil and gas.

While I do not want to contest the suggestion by many that President Yar’Adua holds the key to solving the Niger Delta question, I want to equally advice that he should not make the mistake of seeing the amnesty deal as a magic wand. The cart should be quickly retuned to the back of the horse so that the Niger Delta question can be solved once and for all.