Issue of the year: Subsidy: An Evil Contrived

WERE subsidy to be a man or woman, Nigerians, most Nigerians, would have stoned it to death.  But subsidy is neither a man nor woman.  It is an evil – as contrived by Nigerians.

The year 2012 started with the evil of subsidy and is about ending with same – what with all the fuel queues across the country.

Subsidy rattled the rich, the mighty, the not so rich and not so mighty; the poor; and worst of all, it sent chillers down the spine of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and his  administration.

The world over, subsidy is a governmental instrument used for creating soft-landing for businesses – be it the agro-allied business; or any business for that matter.

However, in Nigeria, the government, businesses and the ordinary people too, have twisted the essence of subsidy in a most convoluted manner.

And this explains why when on January 1, 2012, President Goodluck Jonathan wished Nigerians ill-luck for the year by removing the subsidy of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, bedlam struck.

At a time when most Nigerians were holidaying, some even travelling and some had travelled to their villages for celebration, having worked hard in the Year 2011 and with fat, slim or shoe-string budgets, to run on during the festive periods of Christmas and New Year celebrations which only end in the very early days of January, the President decided to withdraw subsidy.

Mind you, some Nigerians were already getting used to the idea that the subsidy would be removed – especially after the town hall meeting in Lagos on the essence and benefits of the removal.  Because the same government had consistently maintained that whenever it was ready to remove the subsidy, Nigerians would be made aware well ahead of time and carried along, every one was relaxed.

True the masses were carried along.
But they were being carried to a place of despair with Jonathan’s decision because of the attendant hike in prices of commodities. As late as the last week of December 2011, spokes persons in government maintained that the removal was still some months away.  So, Nigerians relaxed.  Until Jonathan struck! And with it came crisis after crisis.



Because of subsidy, the House of Representatives held a session on a Sunday to discuss the matter.  Because of subsidy, some Nigerians lost their sense of respect for the office of President and Commander-in-Chief, hauling unprintable insults on Jonathan. Because of subsidy removal, Nigeria was grounded for one week owing to mass action. Because of subsidy, some innocent lives were lost, lives were ruined, businesses disrupted and destroyed for live.

Subsidy removal

Because of subsidy, a new word crept into Nigeria’s lexicon: sting operation. Yes! The operation stung virtually everyone involved.

Source;vanguard

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