TheCable

The maiden and introductory Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting that held yesterday—since Buhari rode back to power—on a very tall donkey, and the earliest ‘beautiful’ gift given to Nigerians was the approval of 7.2% VAT! As said by Zainab Ahmed, the current finance minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (FRN), the new victory gift (7.2% VAT) may take effect next year, 2020! This will unquestionably add to the existing economic-burden that the common man has been groaning under for a very long time.

Those in the corridors of power do not build the country by reducing their own decadent and illegitimate “bread of office”; but the only way they build the Nigeria of their selfish-dreams is to further constrict the rope of poverty around the neck of the common man. Those who are currently groaning under the weight of lack and want will definitely not laugh when the 7.2% increase in VAT takes effect come next year. I guess this is one of the victories for Nigerians—that PMB mentioned yesterday—after the tribunal upheld his re-election.

The little minimum wage increase that is yet to be fully implemented is the reason behind the next-level gift (7.2% VAT) that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) gave Nigerians—a few hours ago. The new increase in minimum wage is what I have chosen to call—poverty trap. When the Federal Republic of Nigeria gives you 100 naira, just be sure that it would take 1000 naira from you! Many Nigerians do not understand this reality yet. One day, the napkin of tribalism, religion and political leanings will fall off their wearied-faces and they would be able to see their enemies for whom they are.

The poor man will never be economically free from the shackles of poverty in Nigeria—as long as the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) is allowed to lead any protest against the Federal Government of Nigeria. The Federal Government of Nigeria puts food on the table of those in the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), so how can they truly fight against those who are tossing coins into their pockets and putting food on their tables? All the pseudo-protests that Adams Oshiomhole led in his day, where did he lead us to? They further led us into poverty while they have led him to the corridors of power!

Away from the approved 7.2% VAT, NLC’s hypocrisy and the napkin that is covering our people’s faces, I want to momentarily touch on the malevolence that is ongoing in South Africa while the African Union (AU) disgracefully keeps tight-lipped. The government of Buhari has chosen not to be hard on the Republic of South Africa, because we do not really value our people. And when we do not value our own, a nation like South Africa would treat our people as trash and junk.

It is amazing that the government of PMB still wants to strengthen the relationship with a nation that looks on while some valueless citizens of South Africa were killing our people. One of those who returned yesterday said that they buried our people after killing them! As if that was not enough, another citizen of ours said that our people were killed right before those who were supposed to protect them—the South African Police men. This is the country PMB is promising to help overcome their challenges. Isn’t it laughable when we say we want to help others while we are panting heavily, trying to solve ours? A few days ago, a sitting governor met with some bandits to beg them to stop killing and kidnapping our people. And just this week, same governor swapped some bandits for some kidnapped citizens of Nigeria. It has become this bad!

The person (Ahmed Abubakar) who led the pointless special envoy sent to South Africa by president Buhari said and I quote: “Nigeria stands ready to assist South Africa in establishing the root causes of and developing sustainable solutions to the challenges concerned…” For the umpteenth time, we do have too many problems at home for us to be playing the role of a big brother to those who do not care either a hoot or two hoots.

In an attempt to be a big brother to every African country, we wasted money building many African countries, but our own country, we have left in ruins. We wasted money, helping South Africa out of their crisis while our own crisis has remained with us for decades. We sent military men to Liberia, but today, our military men are struggling to protect us as a people. We would be respected, not when we waste resources—building other countries, but when we build our own country! On the condition that our people are poor and not well taken care of, who will respect us as a nation, even if we keep doling out money to all African countries like a prodigal son?

While coasting home, I’d like to return to the fleeting and short-term victory of PMB at the tribunal yesterday. It is temporary and impermanent, because Atiku Abubakar and the PDP are heading for the appeal court. Incidentally, on the day 7.2% VAT was officially approved was the day temporary-victory was given to PMB at the tribunal! The approved 7.2% VAT is victory for Nigerians! In the days to come, Nigerians would find out whether yesterday’s victory is either victory or defeat for them!

Lastly, after the tribunal upheld Buhari’s re-election, Bola Tinubu said it is “justice served, democracy saved.” When it comes to democracy in our clime, it is hard to properly define anything. If it favors politicians, they can say good afternoon in the wee hours of the day. I hope if the appeal court’s verdict doesn’t favor him in the days to come, he would still say, “Justice served, democracy saved.”