Subsidy Politics

Subsidy Politics unarguably is  the most controversial policy in nigeria over the last thirty years or thereabout.It made a mess of every incoming government during the period.It marred eight years of olusegun obasanjo,same with righteous but short-lived Yara'adua government, aggravated with good luck Jonathan administration when subsidy fraud consumed more than two thirds of yearly budget.

The central bank governor lamido sanusi and coordinating minister of the Economy during the period debated the thorny issue at every forum to no avail.Why? Because powers that be the military generals and top cabals decided to retain it.

They faced stiff resistance from labour leaders and were not able to convince the masses subsidy removal won't portends teething trouble for the teething masses.However in the run up to 2011 election, presidential candidate of the congress for progressive change later of APC muhammed Buhari ,once said and I quote'If anybody says he's subsidising ,he's a fraud'.Professor Tam David West best minister of Petroleum in Nigeria after Buhari made similar statement'.Should there be subsidy,the answer is Capital no!If you go through the racket,I will tell you why subsidy is nothing but fraud.It is not just one man business there are many interest involved in the fraud.'So in terms of  subsidising,I could sense the word'cabal'that Soyinka once referred to it ruling and ruining this country.

Hear Tam David west again"When former President Good luck set up subsidy investigation panel and I was invited ,I got my facts ready that there should not be any subsidy.The time I wanted to present my facts at the panel, Jonathan said they shouldn't allow me".See that ?What kind of disgrace and insult to the old don who when he was minister of Petroleum, or when he became commissioner in Rivers state in 1976,Goodluck probably could be in either kindergarten ,primary School or secondary School let alone dreamt the talk of entering the varsity.When he was minister of Petroleum,he lamented,'we didn't import one litre of petrol'.He said we had three refineries and they deliberately'sabotaged the refineries'.That the amount wasted on subsidy could build two refineries.He concluded "subsidy is a scam and a fraud"I think Buhari can solve it and stop it"

What did  Buhari do when he became president?He did nothing about it and persisted in subsidising fraud,only to leave the landmine for the current president.The military cabals were the major problem in Nigeria strangulated the refineries and misled Buhari,who wanted to be misled anyway.He spent 3trillion naira per annum over 24trillion in 8years in office on subsidy until his departure refineries were left in comatose.This wasted hard earned forex could give us about two to three solid refineries and increase resources for consumption and export Market.

There is no doubt that nigerian tankers were everywhere in the west African countries and countries like Cameroun enjoying unbridled access to our subsidised products to the detriment of nigerian masses.There was strike and protest in Cameroun after the inaugural speech when the president said'Subsidy is gone'.

Mr President indeed is the most prepared nigerian to become president in nigeria having the first hand information about this fraud did not waste time to ban it.He patnered with Dangote to build the Dangote refineries that was scheduled to begin operation in July ending and August.We hope to heave sigh of relief.Shallom.