A BEWILDERED NATION: The Plight of Nigerians in the National Leadership Conspiracy

In the midst of disillusionment and growing apathy, the Nigerian nation finds itself bewildered by the actions of its national leadership. As social scientists struggle to comprehend what exactly is amiss with our people, a puzzling narrative unfolds. In 2014 during the presidency of H.E Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, a mere N10/ltr increase in petrol prices triggered a massive outcry from the opposition party, leading to the collapse of the ruling government at the federal level.

Curiously, when the opposition party, APC, took over the reins of power in 2015, they executed a complete U-turn by removing same petrol subsidy totally and increasing the pump price from N86/ltr to N142/ltr, without facing any significant opposition from the people. One must ask, to what extent have the promised developmental projects materialized? Have we witnessed the long-awaited promised improved infrastructural facilities, and developmental amenities that would enhance the quality of life for our citizens?

Ironically, the same APC government, still in power today, continues to claim the existence of a subsidy that must be eradicated, justifying an incredible increase in the pump price to over N500/ltr (an unbelievable 300% surge). They persist in their promises to make life meaningful for the people, but what follows is nothing but excruciating pain and a degradation of living standards. Astonishingly, the once-vocal objectors of 2014 seem to have fallen silent.

As a collective, our complacency and acceptance of the oppressive tendencies of Nigerian leaders can be attributed to a lack of information and an unwillingness to engage with government policies that directly impact us. Nigerians have shown a reluctance to read or research the policies affecting their lives, thereby failing to recognize the repeated removal of subsidies as a conspiracy against our own people. Attributively, without knowledge, a people remain defenceless against the forces that seek to exploit and manipulate them perpetuating their sufferings and sustaining their persistent subjugations.

To comprehend this subsidy issue, we must first have knowledge of its nature and character. Subsidy only arises when the landing cost of imported petroleum products, along with other associated distribution expenses, exceeds the regulated price set by the authorities at filling stations. In simpler terms, the difference between these costs and regulated pump price constitutes subsidy.

Onwards, the recently suspended DIRECT SUPPLY DIRECT PURCHASE (DSDP) policy arrangements of the NNPC requires delivery of crude oil to refiners, who, in return, provide specified petroleum products of equivalent value to the initially supplied crude oil (these deliveries are conducted on a Free on Board FoB basis). While the refiners generate profits by selling the remaining petroleum products in the global market, the NNPCL benefits from the sales of Petrol, Diesel, and Aviation Fuel within Nigeria.

Examining the ongoing scenario, a structural analysis of the DSDP policy reveals that no payments have been made to either party, which ultimately implies that there has been no significant impact on our national foreign exchange or the world price of crude oil concerning the prices of petroleum products within our nation. Even if there were an impact, it would exceedingly be minimal.

In light of these clarifications coupled with the fact that, constructive interrogations empower the people to liberate themselves from the claws of deceitful leaders, several crucial questions arose inter-alia:

• Can the NNPCL explain to Nigerians and the international community the basis for its claims of subsidies collected in the past years, namely N99Bn in 2016; N142Bn in 2017; N722Bn in 2018; N578Bn in 2019; N134Bn in 2020; N1.4Trn in 2021; N4.4Trn in 2022 and N3.6Trn in 2023(just btw Jan-June) - amazing (figures approximated for simplicity)?
• Can Mr. Bola Ahmed Tinubu provide a comprehensive audit report justifying the recent 300% increase in the pump price of petrol, despite his claim that it took him 30 years to prepare for leadership?
• How far has Mr. Bola Ahmed Tinubu progressed in unravelling the discrepancies in national crude oil lifting, as discovered by the House of Representatives' investigations on the DSDP contracts between 2020-2023? This revealed conflicting figures, with claims of: NNPCL 739mbl, the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) 733mbl, the Nigeria Navy 990mbl, and the Midstream-Downstream 732mbl – all between 2016-2021.
• Are Nigerians purposefully being punished for crimes they did not commit, subjected to excruciating suffering and demeaning living standards, or compelled to enrich and finance the profligacy of Nigeria's extravagant leaders?
• What has happened to our present Civil Society Organisations, organized labour, and the so-called leaders of the Occupy Nigeria movement that vehemently protested against the removal of petroleum subsidy in 2015? Are they now complicit in this ongoing conspiracy against the helpless Nigerians?
• Lastly, as Nigerians, have we taken a moment to pause and question how each presidential aspirant plan to address the deceitful and crooked fuel subsidy?

The time for politics and electioneering has come and gone; now we must demand effective governance that delivers the dividends of democracy. However, this can only be achieved through rigorous scientific interrogation and purposeful scrutiny of our leaders – be they political, economic, traditional or religious.

Permit me to quote my mentor, Pa Mahatma Gandhi: "Our resources are just good enough for our needs and not for our greed." This sentiment echoes my own saying: "A people that refuses to emancipate itself from the greedy, wicked, and oppressive clutches of its leaders will perpetually suffer under such oligarchies."

As the wise elders say, a word is enough for the wise; it is time for us to ponder on our next move Nigerians. Should we continue along this path? Remember, drowning does not occur by merely falling into the river; it is the act of refusing to swim out.

Dayo Kayode, PhD
Ifako-Ijaye, Lagos.
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