31/05/2023
In 2012, when Former president Goodluck Jonathan removed fuel subsidy, I was one of the very few that supported this idea which was unpopular at the time. In fact, my project topic in my final year at the university was centred on fuel subsidy.
'Impact of fuel subsidy removal on rural dwellers'.
I vigorously expressed my support for this policy on this space at the time.
Subsidy was a waste of tax payers money, it still is.
This of course came with backlashes and insults from people who felt otherwise.
The streets where occupied, Ojota, in Lagos was home for thousands of protesters who felt GEJ was fighting poor people with this policy.
The government at the time tried to prove the genuineness and sincerity of their decision.
Jonathan announced the cut in the salaries and entitlements of ministers.
Affordable transport services where made available by the government in major Nigerian cities.
The SURE-P which stands for Subsidy Re-investment Program was launched.
It was meant to re-invest proceeds of the subsidy removal in critical sectors like health care, transport and Education. As a result of this, Many primary and secondary healthcare centers were built, buses and Cars where bought by government and given to private individuals at lesser rate for transport purposes. Classrooms were constructed in various primary and secondary schools in almost every part of the country.
The government were talking to the people using various media platforms
I remember how the then CBN governor, Sanusi Limido Sanusi's house was razed by angry mob in kano for daring to articulate the advantages of this removal thereby showing his support for this policy which was tagged Jonathan's policy.
Insults were hurled at Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala who was at the time the Minister for finance and Co-ordinating Minister of the Economy for daring to make Nigerians understand the importance of ending the subsidy regim.
The people didn't want to listen, politicians in opposition including the present president of Nigeria, Tinubu and his predecessor Buhari took advantage of the situation and were on the streets protesting against Jonathan and telling the people how he has failed for daring to remove subsidy.
Alas, GEJ gave in ( I wish he didnt).
Prices where slashed and fuel subsidy continued.
Today, the government didnt even relate and speak to Nigerians as GEJ did, no palliative provided to cushion the effect of the removal particularly on poor people, no road map on the way forward.
Subsidy removed and that's final!
You like it or not, you must accept the removal. If you dare say otherwise,the Bulabas on this space will pounce on you like angry bees.
You can't speak or have your say, just watch and do as you have been told.
And if you are sturborn enough to air your mind like me, they ignorantly tag you 'Obidiot'
Fela put it the right way.
" Suffering and smiling".
Ntoooorrrrrrrrr.
OK, bye
