TheCable

One of the slogans during the government of Buhari is “I will or Buhari’s administration will lift 100million of Nigerians out of poverty.” It is one of the major political statements of the ongoing government of open-ended “next-level.” It’s just that the actual time it will happen is not yet known to Baba, Osinbajo, their team of political-folks and those they want to lift out of poverty—as a crane would lift a car out of a pit at a subway construction site.

The more they say they want to lift Nigerians out of poverty, the more our people are being plunged further into the crater of poverty. The only way you can kick against this public-stance of mine is if you are living far away from reality. Those who are not interested in swimming in the murky water of politics do know that what I am saying is the truth. The rate at which people now beg for money has increased on the watch of Buhari. It is going to be very sad and disastrous on the condition that baba leaves behind a poorer nation than the one GEJ left behind when he was living for his village, “Otuoke.”

The current administration of PMB is being so poorly run to the extent that it almost daily stretches its bowl to beg for loans. The more we are being told that we make as a nation, the more we run everywhere begging for loans! Nigerians are paying more for fuel while the government of baba has continued to pay for subsidy till this moment. This is directly contrary to what the Buhari and Osinbajo led administration promised the good people of Nigeria. PMS was increased from 86.50 to 145naira, so as to stop paying for subsidy that was said to be fictional. That was the only justification that was given for the insensitive increase in fuel that led to the increase in value of everything in the country. That was about 70% increase and increment! Till today, we are still being daily told that we are broke as a nation. Nigerians are paying 70% more for fuel, lifting the government of baba out of poverty!

To lift our people out of poverty, the government of Buhari is supposed to be giving our people more than they are daily taking from them. Almost nothing is being given back to our people, but they are daily putting—the load that—they cannot touch with their fingers—on the back of our people. How can Nigerians be paying 145naira for a litre of PMS, while the current government is still paying subsidy that they once said was a fraud under the administration of Goodluck Ebele Jonathan? What was a ghost under GEJ has resurrected under PMB. Let us keep fooling ourselves.

Nigerians are daily being put on the breadline to bankroll their larger than life status in the corridors of power. Since the “Union Jack” was lowered; deprived and helpless Nigerians have always been the ones to adapt to poverty while those in the corridors of power maintain their ostentatious and flamboyant lifestyle. Today, we are having poor and extremely poor Nigerians!

To further lift the government of baba out of poverty, on the 2nd of February, 2016, Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN), the former minister of Power announced 45% increase in electricity tariff! One of the reasons he gave was that the 45% increase in electricity tariff would result in better power supply, but since 2016, Nigerians have been paying more money to purchase power-outage!

I can go on and on—on some other areas—where Nigerians are being made to pay more, so as to continue to sustain those in the corridors of power in opulence. As an effect of some ill-timed policies, the common man is now paying more to buy what he and his family members would eat. This is happening in a nation where a lot of States are still owing salaries of many of their workers. How will Nigerians in those States be able to feed their family members?

After about five years in office, I do not expect Buhari, Osinbajo and their team of professional-politicians to still be using “I will” and “we will” do this and do that while addressing the good people of Nigeria. Nigerians are no longer interested in empty-political-promises. Good governance is like a desert-mirage in Nigeria. It is always ahead of our people and I am of the opinion that our people do not deserve this incongruity.

A few minutes ago, I left my study to listen to one of our politicians while addressing Nigerians. He was telling our people that Nigeria does not have a debt crisis. When I heard this, I laughed. What else do you expect those borrowing as if there is no tomorrow to say? Politicians do not believe what they say, but they are usually amazed that many gullible Nigerians do.

An administration that is planning to tax our people some more while they are still wallowing in poverty and extreme-poverty is not likely going to lift them a hoot out of poverty. Infact, baba’s administration is gasping for lungful of air—on the inside of the pit of self-inflicted poverty. Remember, you do not rely on someone who is naked to cover your back with raiment. It will take an administration that is free from insincerity and unnecessary debt to truly create a healthy environment for you, so you can end up lifting yourself out of poverty. PMB’s administration cannot lift anyone out of poverty. Infact, Nigerians do not need Buhari’s administration to promise what will never be done. Give our people good roads, stable supply of electricity and security and watch our people lift themselves out of both poverty and abject-poverty!