Nigerians woke up just about two days ago to discover that suddenly, fuel had became available in many of the nation’s filling stations. This was a sharp diversion from the ‘acute’ shortage which, since late October, had led to fearful long vehicular queues in most of the filling stations across the country for fuel that was hardly available.
The magic wand for the sudden return of fuel was the announcement recently, by the nation’s minister of state for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, of the impending reduction in the fuel pump price from N87 per litre to N85.
The oil marketers who apparently have hoarded the product, creating artificial scarcity, in anticipation of increase in the pump price, were thrown off balance by Muhammadu Buhari’s government which is gradually focusing on dislodging the masses of Nigeria from the strangle hold of the few blood-suckers that called themselves oil marketers, and their sponsored surrogates that are found even in the supposedly respected labour unions.
These blood suckers, who have fed fat on the poor masses, by collecting huge sums of money for the products they did not supply to specification, and which subsequently snowballed into excruciating prices of common commodities in the markets and services, suddenly realized that they would lose huge money if they allow January 1 to roll in with the hoarded fuel unsold.
They seemed clever-by-half, for, if conversely, Kachikwu had announced that the government would increase fuel price from N87 per litre to maybe, N90, they would have kept the product under lock and key until January, so that they would make a huge rip off.
With the scenario that has played out in just these few days, Buhari’s government has shown that it is cleverer, more foresighted and more proactive than the oil marketers who have been guzzling every kobo, every dollar, every Euro and so on, irrespective of the negative effects it has on the common people of the country.
This brings me to the notion I always have that Nigeria is a very funny country with some kind of funny people. The good thing about Nigeria is that Nigerians have shown clearly that they are the easiest set of God’s creation to be governed, just by anybody, including thieves. And the bad side is that they rank highest or one of the highest in murmuring complaints about their leaders and about the prevailing system that does not favour them.
I have always been amazed that Nigerians remain as cool as cucumber whenever they are being ripped off, a thing that could lead to major revolution in some other countries.
When oil marketers and their cohorts decided to hoard the product and make them to be on unending queues, Nigerians could only murmur and complain under their breath.Now that the marketers have rushed the product out to beat price loss, Nigerians jubilate in murmur.
That also reminds me: when many parts of the country began to enjoy some kind of steady electricity shortly after President Buhari mounted the leadership of this country, ardent supporters of former President Goodluck Jonathan said it was the foundation he laid that we were enjoying. Even now that fuel has resurfaced in filling stations, some people are saying that it was Jonathan that laid the foundation. Some others are even blaming the Nigerian labour unions for keeping quiet as the Buhari government proposes to remove fuel subsidy, even though the government has slashed the price of the fuel and begin to ensure that refineries are working.
Those are they who would not buy Buhari for a cent.
That are Nigerians for you; always dogmatic on individual leader! [myad]
