Never did Nigerians have a bleaker Christmas than this; except during the war perhaps. But that of course, would be understandable. But for the discerning, the people of this country are under fire – and this is not a mere literary expression. Raging underneath the psyche of the generality of the populace are painful psychological torments, emotional distress and mental dishevelment. The sheer weight of hopelessness – you just don’t know what tomorrow would bring – bogs down everyone regardless of tribe or tongue.
This has impacted on Christmas, robbing it of its cheers and its sight and sounds. What a drab, dreary Christmas it has turned out to be. “Not even a grain of rice has anyone sent my way this year,” a senior journalist quipped when ribbed about Christmas hampers. But regardless, this column would package five baskets of bounteous hampers for President Muhammadu Buhari for his Yuletide enjoyment.
Let it be noted that this is a mere recap, as most of these points have been raised here previously since PMB’s ascension last year.
Of insular mien and economic aridity: We have learnt by now that PMB is naturally insular and devoid of much mirth and cheers; no man learns to use the left hand in old age so we live with that. But a smile here and a back-slap there could work like magic wand untying even the knottiest of national issues.
But we ask: has this ever so inscrutable mien in anyway translated to the arid state of our economy? First, there is a mind-bending discordance in the polity but it is much more pronounced in the economy.
We all know that the oil sector is crucial in several respects. For instance, the National Bureau of Statistics just announced that Nigeria spent about N960 billion importing petrol-fuel products in the first five months of this year. Though this figure is far lower than we did last year, the full import is that we may be spending about N2 trillion importing just petrol fuels in one year. Petrochemical products not inclusive.
You would think that government would speedily respond to a hobbling problem like this. But up till now, there is no clear-cut policy on refineries. Only this week, Ibe Kachikwu (minister) said one thing and Maikanti Baru (NNPC) said the direct opposite concerning the refineries.
Feckless FEC: The above point dove-tails into the second basket of hamper. This Federal Executive Council (FEC) must be the most unpurposed and ineffectual in recent history of presidential cabinets. No bright spark of light, no x-factor and one cannot find anything to cheer or commend.
As noted here recently, 18 months was the time it took Mrs. Stella Oduah to almost conclude a massive overhaul of about 12 airports across the country. But 18 months of PMB’s administration, the aviation sector is on the verge of collapse and some of the huge projects Oduah initiated are uncompleted if not abandoned. We don’t even know who the Aviation minister is. This is just one example; it is the same in every ministry and sector. Poor and uninspiring as former President Goodluck Jonathan was, apart from Stella Oduah, he had the likes of Prof. Bath Nnaji, who was replaced by an equally up and doing Prof. Chinedu Nebo, Mrs. Ifueko Omoigui at FIRS and Dora Akunyili at the initial stage. All these people earned big wins for Jonathan in spite of himself. No such performer with PMB so far.
Graft war as a non-starter: PMB’s determination to dredge the swamp of graft in our system is also stumped. One and a half years down the line, the method being applied has become humdrum if not stupid with not ‘bankable’ result.
This column has shouted itself hoarse on this issue and there is no point sounding like a bad gramophone. Even the office of the Attorney-General is lacking in both intellectual and institutional capacities. One example though that bears repetition: the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation is the key to fighting official graft if equipped and empowered. If this has happened, we should have its first report now.
The rise of a power cabal: Obviously, a cabal has emerged which has managed to sequester the president and drive the presidency. Nothing wrong in such power games, except when the cabal is unenlightened and myopic. A selfish, clannish and power-mongering cabal will only breed ill-will for the presidency and engender endless crises in the polity. Unfortunately, this is where we are now.
INEC/election conundrum: This crucial task has already been mired by the presidency. The appointments, from the headman to the recent national commissioners, are on the face of it, unenlightened, to say the least. It is doubtful if this team has the perspicacity to reform our electoral process or even conduct credible elections. Sad.
Something salutary though: Let us concede, though grudgingly, that there are some stirrings in the agric sector. It is still very insignificant but it is a start. There is still massive importation of food and not enough is being done to push back that scourge. We should ban importation of rice, poultry products, vegetable oil, fish, milk, in the next one year for a start and drive local production and substitutes more seriously.
Military siege to Southeast
Just as suspected, the dance of the ‘python’ in this festive period in Igboland has been a source of pain and sorrow. Early travellers for the Yuletide have reported most punishing military checkpoints, especially from the Onitsha head bridge. This has caused many people to stay overnight on the road. Even the Nigerian Customs Service has joined the bazaar.
This is very provocative. Compared to Kaduna, Taraba, Zamfara, Adamawa, Nasarawa and even Benue, the states of the Southeast are very peaceful. Kaduna has been a killing-field with ethnic militia better armed than the army. One is not aware of any military operation going on in any of these places.
Apart from ‘Operation Python Dance’, there is another ‘Operation Show of Force’ going on in Aba right now. The precedence and implications of this are far-reaching.
But most telling is that in all of this, the military is contriving to usurp the powers and duties of the police. The police should be empowered to do its duties around the country. Period.
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL.
