A Nigerian Socio-Political commentary

Subsidy removal has engendered certain discourses which hitherto were an open secret, but were somehow forbidden, never received due attention, or conveniently swept under the carpet because people never had the platform, opportunity or cohesiveness to push them. The debate over Fuel subsidy removal and the attendant wide spread protest however has provided a platform and opportunity to speak. For me, these are issues that have been nagging, and fuel subsidy removal pales into insignificance. If the Nigerian Labor congress would bring these to the table as a bargaining chip, and demand change, it would have achieved much. What are the issues? 1. Operation of a constitution bequeathed to us by the military. Until now, the people of Nigeria have not sat at a table, freely of themselves, in a democratic dispensation to discuss the basis of their existence, cohabitation, and nationhood. An article of faith, stating that “we the people of Nigeria declare….” freely debated, freely entered in

Nigerians are a complex and curious lot. So vocal, so vociferous and passionate about issues they sometimes little understand, if only to be seen saying something! The punching bag of any and every baby that can blab is the government. The recent menace of Boko Haram brings this to the fore. Most associates of mine severely castigate the president, Goodluck Jonathan as being weak, lame and unprepared for leadership of this country. Their assumption is that he is doing less than required since we still hear of bomb explosions every now and then. He inept they surmise. They posit that former President Obasanjo would have crushed the menace of Boko haram by now! I never knew Nigerians could be this nostalgic for Baba Iyabo! What they fail to see however, is that Nigeria is is not alone in this experience and that the government is doing her very best in these situations. The IRA held North Ireland hostage for generations, detonating bombs at will, even killing the much revered Lord Mountb