THE LETHAL SILENCE.....

THE LETHAL SILENCE.....

So Nigeria is facing an energy crisis and those in charge of the federation are busy watching "telemundo" while Nigerians prepare for the World jerry can hustle championships across the land. 

How is it that Nigerians are not deserving of any explanation(s) for the acute on chronic fuel shortages/ absence?  Is there also no explanation for the associated electricity blackout spanning most states? Is it that difficult to comprehend that a simple explanation could help douse tension and allow for reason to prevail?  We used to hear of low water levels unable to power the hydro plants during the dry season;  these days the default message is gas pipeline vandalism. 

Do they not realise that protecting such pipelines is not negotiable? It reminds me of Alison-Madueke's comment in defence of subsidy removal during the #OccupyNigeria protests.  She said the borders were porous hence the inability of the government to halt crude and refined product bunkering. The borders are still porous and yet the rate of unemployment is mind boggling. 

This leadership-followership disconnect is not pathognomonic to Mr Jonathan and his people.  Politicians from all parties who think that public office ought to benefit them maximally are equally culpable.  They acquire property with reckless abandon and many times build structures with complete disregard for all planning laws. The leaders who ought to defend the rights and privileges of the majority feed fat first leaving the crumbs and burnt "bottom-pot" for rest. 

How does one explain a multitude wrestling to fill their fuel vessels for hours only for privileged military and para-military forces to force their vehicles through the crowd to have their fill before scrambling away? How does one explain the the legislative government composed of a few hundred members command a budgetary allocation that far outweighs what many states get?  

The incoming president is far from perfect but one thing which is clear is that he is not the conventional politician.  We need to become unconventional and unpredictable citizens as well to effect change.  The outgoing dispensation succeeded in stereotyping us. They knew they could do anything in any way and get away with it.  They could manoeuvre us to purchase fuel at sinful pump prices and we would only whimper; continuing with our suffering and smiling. The black marketers know we would but 5 litres of fuel for 5000 and give testimony in church when we really ought to call their bluff and stare them down until they set the kidnapped fuel free.

We should make demands and set really  high standards; something like not negotiating with terrorists.  Those who have ensured that Nigerians suffered from fuel and electricity shortages are nothing short of a cartel;  bandits,  criminal gangs,  terrorists with weapons of mass disaster and diabolical creatures. We should be reasonable with our demands especially with the time frame alloted but it does not mean we should accept diesel locomotives with Nigerians hanging from windows and packed like "geisha" in this age of speed trains.  We should demand for quality and universal basic education for all and sundry instead of boasting about Almajiri schools; the kind we would never send our own children to. 

We should not tolerate this kind of radio silence ever in our country.  It is clear some information ought to be classified but fundamental issues such as internal security and energy cannot be shrouded in uncertainty and speculations. What if there was a warning of an incoming tornado or tsunami approaching bar beach? What if we had a nuclear reactor that experienced a leak like what occurred in Japan a few years ago?  This present administration have proven that such information would never reach the people.  They have perpetually lied about the economy,  security and the German multiple resurrections. 

Some things will be coded after Friday but there should be a limit to what we should tolerate from the incoming administration at every level.  Hopefully, the judiciary and law enforcement will become transparent and liberated.  We should not take any rubbish whatsoever from ordinary state law makers and local government chair persons not to talk of their family members and any reckless individual who assumes a privileged position because of some perceived proximity to power.  

That will be the true change;  when we seek for and reinforce justice,  righteousness and equity.