2012…SO FAR, NO SURPRISES!

President G. E. A Jonathan

I wish desperately to be proven wrong, but how right can one be! How can we now trust him to do all that he has promised; when he can cave in to opportunism at the drop of a hat? Trust is an invaluable substance between leaders and the led. Even God so courted our trust that He swore by Himself!

By the time you read this, the year 2012 would have been eight days old…eight action-packed days. Eight days of suffering for many and of anger for most. And you already know why. It is called “total deregulation of the downstream sector of the oil and gas industry”, otherwise known as withdrawal of subsidy on premium motor spirit (petrol), otherwise known as petrol price hike. It was a new year present, packaged by President Goodluck Jonathan and his transformation crew, and delivered with love and best wishes to the people of Nigeria.

Coming exactly one week after the Christmas package delivered to Nigerians by the Boko Haram sect through its attack at St Theresa’s Catholic Church, Madalla near Abuja, it made the 2011/2012 yuletide season one to remember.

Apart from the various sights of angry protesters in what some have characterised as an Occupy Nigeria campaign, there have been fantastic “photoshop” reactions online too. You might have seen the gentleman peeing in his petrol tank. Or the lady on her knees before her car’s open tank, a big water container besides her, and her Bible aloft, apparently praying for the water to transform to wine (sorry petrol), so she can fill her tank. You might have also received mock sales notices of gas guzzling vehicles put up for sale at prices far below those of bicycles, horses and donkeys!

While these are intended for comic relief, the realities are as grim. Many people who travelled to their home towns and villages, as is usual during the Christmas/new year season, were stranded because they could not afford the new fares of between 100 and 200% increase back to base. Reports of some punning their mobile phones and other items are widespread. Many are, as I write this, still unable to fund their return journey.

There is this scenario that keeps playing in my head. Citizen Joe, as he was wont to do, had perfected his financial plan. He had saved for his children’s school fees due early in January, put aside enough money to transport himself to and from work until his next pay day, and set aside something for the garri-soaking season post end-of-year festivities. Then he got the transformation package from his president. Not one to complain, and desirous of living within his means, he decided he would walk part of the way to and from work. As he sweats his way home in the hot and humid weather, he feels dehydrated. Needing water to get some strength, he approached the “poor” water vendor, his precious N5 in hand, only to be told, sorry “na ten naira”. Citizen Joe fainted!

There must be better ways of implementing a public policy that its designers swear to high heavens is meant to ultimately benefit the masses. Governance by stealth, by deceit cannot be one of the ways. And to think that spokespersons of this administration claim an awareness of the fact that Nigerians don’t trust their government. This one not excluded!

I won’t waste your time trying to argue for or against the policy itself; not least because I think it’s simply one of those numbers- rather than people-based, one-size-fits-all imposition of the Breton Woods institutions. But for God’s sake why sneak it in while giving every body the impression you are still consulting?!

As recently as December 21, 2011, Daily Times Nigeria was still reporting that “the Federal Government…is yet to fix a date for the commencement of the removal of petroleum subsidy. Briefing journalists after the last Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting for the year, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja earlier today, Labaran Maku, the Minister of Information said the government was still engaging different groups in dialogue for a proper understanding of the subsidy issue.” Many other news outfits reported the same.

But, as I said in the headline today, I am not surprised. I am on record as saying that one should never set much store on Dr Goodluck Jonathan’s words. In the run-down to the elections last year, I wrote as follows:

“Dr Goodluck Jonathan is an amiable man who affects a kind of humility uncommon in the history of our presidency. But I submit with all sense of responsibility, that the very fact that he is in this race on the ticket of PDP, puts his integrity to test. I do not support zoning, but he did. He is a signatory to the initial document that affirmed the scheme within his party and a beneficiary of the arrangement. To try, as he did, to sophistically repudiate the arrangement is sheer opportunism. Affecting to be different, he has nonetheless manifested the same double standards, which successive Nigerian leaders have institutionalized. He knows that the use of government facilities for partisan political purposes is, at least, opportunistic and immoral, if not fraudulent. Under his watch, impunity has returned, with the legislative crisis in Ogun state, denial of access to campaign venues, by governments run by PDP as in the case of Buhari at Mapo Hall, Ibadan are poster examples. The point being made here is that the president’s rhetoric has not been matched by his actions and omissions…”

I wish desperately to be proven wrong, but how right can one be! How can we now trust him to do all that he has promised; when he can cave in to opportunism at the drop of a hat? Trust is an invaluable substance between leaders and the led. Even God so courted our trust that He swore by Himself!

Anyway, not only am I not surprised, I am also not worried. And I urge all my compatriots not to be worried, not by this betrayal nor by Boko Haram. In the early hours of January 1, the Holy Spirit led me to these verses of scripture:

Don't worry--I am with you. Don't be afraid--I am your God. I will make you strong. I will help you. I will support you with my right hand that brings victory. Look, some people are angry with you, but they will be ashamed and disgraced. Your enemies will be lost and disappear. You will look for the people who were against you, but you will not be able to find them. Those who fought against you will disappear completely. I am the LORD your God, who holds your right hand. And I tell you, 'Don't be afraid! I will help you.’ (Isaiah 41:10-13).

It’s a message, as much to us as individuals, as it is to our nation. Happy new year, once again.