May 6, 2023

THE RETURN OF SUBSIDY.

As the new government takes over power this month,we return back to our common fate the so called subsidy politics.The blogger Ibikunle Laniyan,shares his archival memoirs of prior subsidy protest exactly a decade ago.The question is:Can we get it right this time?
The plight of Nigerians over the last decade  and much beyond,has taken an excruciating dent and deplorable state begging for uncommon redress beyond the  strategic limit of Western macroeconomic contraption.There was wild jubilation in the land in 2011,when group of nigerian professionals including musicians trooped to Eagles square with songs and choreographic display to give their patronage and moral endorsement to former president Goodluck Jonathan.The artists mesmorised their humble audience including students, traders , labour leaders and their fans.They heaped praises on the son of humble local fisherman from Otuoke ,Bayelsa .
Unfortunately eight months after their music had turned to tears and curse.Why?The heartless decision of the government through the Petroleum Product Pricing and Regulatory Agency to remove subsidy on January 1,was to blame. The same Eagles square that was formerly used to sing his praises was jam-packed by antisubsidy removal protesters.It was led by Dino Melaye former member of house of Representatives.According to punch journalist Olusola Fabiyi , despite fierce resistance from commander of the brigade of guards Brigadier Gen . Emmanuel Atewe who dispatched officers and soldiers from presidential villas to dissolve them including the men and soldiers from State security service were not perturbed to fight the government to a standstill.Melaye in the address to the protesters ,described the decision to remove subsidy was wicked.That "it is wicked ,it is satanic ,it is nefarious ,barbaric......."Nigeria labour Congress and Trade Union Congress collected almost a thousand signatures from the people to register their anger and disapproval.The commercial and government businesses were paralysed with heavy deployment of armed security personnel from major roads and lined up till sprawling Federal Secretariat.Still there nigerians were  undeterred.This also included popular Berger junction down to Wuse market and AP plaza junction renamed by protesters as Freedom square . They fought government to  revert back to 65 naira per litre.The protest also took Lagos by storm.
At the Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park,Ojota, Lagos,in January 1,2012 there was once a rancorous gathering of disheartened faces and disgruntled elements in the nigerian society who risked their life to say no to removal of subsidy by federal government.The anti fuel subsidy removal protest that took place at the venue which was constructed in honour of late Icon of human rights Gani Fawehinmi,protesters took to the streets with their placards,both Muslim and Christians and raised eyebrows against the pathetic situation of their suffering masses.
It was a day worth its memoirs marked with huge dose of funfare, music and carnival when nigerians show solidarity to fellow nigerians.According to elaborate report of the day by punch journalists amiable ladies Adeola Balogun and Bosede Olusola Obasa,the delegation of the muslim community was led by chief missioner of the Ansar Ud-Deen society of Nigeria,Imam Abdulrahman Ahmad as well as the leader of the Muslim rights Concern and Lagos State Univetsity , Professor Ladi Akintola.
The Muslim Ulama created a radical scene at the rally boasted its morale alongside the teeming crowd.The convener of Save Nigeria Group, Pastor Tunde Bakare when he made a grandiose entry on stage and Invoked Arabic verses and the scene burst into uproar with the uncommon gesture of the extravagance clergy.He not only ushered the Muslim leader on stage but also preached religious unity.He noted he was born Muslim in the South but grew up in the north and later converted into Christianity.He said some boko haram elements had planned to use religion to divide the country and that they were not only been antihuman but of the devil and not Islamic.
Music lovers,disc jockeys,fed the passionate crowd with evergreen tunes like afrobeat of late fela anikulapo kuti in the presence of his son Femi who also participated in the protest and spoke before the Mammoth crowd.Also , women were not left out in their purdahs.
Beside Femi, Olaitan Olanipekun 's or Dagrin's songs  were requested by the medley and when the disc jockeys obliged,the ground of the campaign rally trembled beyond compare as thousands waxed his lyrics to lampoon government insensitivity.
From the regalia of Saheed Osupa down to celibacy of female juju artist ,Ayo Balogun who led juju musicians'delegation to the rally,the whole carnival enjoyed the camaraderie of aluta continuum.Considering the Calibre of artistes in her entourage such as Sir Shina Peters ,Wale Thompson,Dele Taiwo and a host of others was indeed a memorable period.
Boozers had a field day, drunkards guzzled spirits and wine laced with cigars ,weeds and chanted their war cry'Ole'meaning thief in yoruba to mock corruption in high places.The crowd came from far distances as traders hawked their wares to take advantage of the crowded rally and made quick money.Fruits ,snacks,trended alongside side attractions like sweet wine.
The conveners did not waste time to register their violent anger against subsidy and in some of the groups an inscription ,'Subsidy: Jonathan Must Go' from a group that paraded well fed Rams at the rally.
They brandished cow horn, indicated herbalist's staff of office and chanted incantation.
Pastor Bakare had urged Nigerians not to give up until president Goodluck had reverted back to pre 2012 petrol price which was 65naira per liter.Infact the people resolved accordingly to occupy the streets until they could witness the desired change.
The Goodluck administration despite lameduck growth in agriculture ,25% pay cut for senior officers in government and cameo aviation reforms was of broken promises ,wasted reforms and insensitive policy.It was characterised by sporadic and heartless bombing as well as indiscriminate extinction and impoverished prejudice for wanton pillage of life and property.We agreed it was wrong not the ideal thing to do ,for a sitting government to squander one third of its resources and budget on subsidy at the detriment of infrastructural development.But as to the ways and means to achieve best method to remove subsidy without impoverishing the populace ,he was dumb.It was in line with this thought that president directed expeditious implementation of subsidy reinvestment and empowerment program (SURE) .Every year of this administration,at least 1.5tr.naira was squandered on the  subsidy alone and sometimes 2.5tr.naira.
As the new government takes over on May 29 ,2023 , new landmines of agitation herald the return of subsidy politics and we beg to witness the return of petrol price to pre 2012 period at least or fifty naira per liter.The president elect asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has promised to remove subsidy that could be successful if refineries are working including launching of the Dangote refinery.We envisage masses heaving a sigh of relief for the first time in the country since 1986 when SAP was introduced.

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