Gbawe:

@Alj Harem.

My brother, take your time OOO !!!! Which one you dey now? Why try and pass off pictures of Somalia as Delta State? No SS/SE State is protesting so take your propaganda elsewhere. Only the "parasitic" and "lazy phucks" Yorubas and Fulani "owners of Nigeria" are protesting and we know why.

Love the sarcasm. I am so happy that edo and delta are not going in for the cheap sentimental propaganda from Bigots like Beaf and co.

We are in this cesspit of a Nation together and as such we should unite for the best intreaset of the people.

Next protest is for the FG to make such effort are taken to clean up delta, baleysa and rivers state oil spill. If not another protest go begin.

Kudos to wafi people. Warri no dey carry last at all at all !!

More Anger in DELTA STATE

WARRI – THE protest against the removal of fuel subsidy expanded to Delta State, Friday, with members of the Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, and Committee for Defence of Human Rights, CDHR, grounding business and social activities in the twin cities of Warri and Effurun for more than four hours.

The protest is coming ahead the planned nationwide industrial action on Monday by Organized Labour.

The placard- carrying protesters were led by John Aikpokpo-Martins, Vice Chairman Warri NBA; Barrister Casely Omon-Irabor, Coordinator, Human Rights Defenders Organisation of Nigeria.

Sunny Enenuvwedia, President, CDHR; Pastor Edewor Egedegbe, President, Network for Positive Change; and Barr Benefit Orugbo, Chairman, CDHR Delta State.

They hit the streets of Warri and Effurun as early as 7.00 am in their hundreds. The take-off point was Effurun roundabout.

Some of the placards bore inscriptions; “We want fuel subsidy” “Don’t play politics with our lives in Nigeria” “Okonjo Iweala should resign” “No to IMF policies” “Jonathan has failed us” “If Jonathan cannot rule, resign.”

Okada riders, market women and office workers who closed businesses and offices cheered the protesters as they chanted solidarity songs. Members of the various civil societies also joined in the protest as they march on.

In a proactive strategy, the Area Commander, ACP Abutu Yaro , led several police officers in providing escort for the protesters so that hoodlums would not take advantage to hijack the protest.

Addressing Deltans at Jakpa junction, John Aikpkpo-Martins, Vice Chairman, NBA, Warri said, “We members of the NBA protest today to say no to removal of fuel subsidy, we are fighting against oppression, this is not military rule, Okonjo-Iweala cannot dictate for us, she should resign, fuel price should be returned to N65.”

Also adding his voice, Sunny Enenuvwedia, President, CDHR said, “The president action is hasty. It is anti people, government should cut their bogus life style spending and there will be money for development.

“Why is it only the poor that must suffer? Enough of this rubbish, we want the decision to be rescinded immediately.”

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/01/fuel-subsidy-protest-spreads-to-warri-effurun/

GEJ never start, na the same military men wey him dey take guard body against the masses go kill am when the time comes.

Nigeria shall outlive GEJ and his cohorts.

$ugardaddy:

GEJ never start, na the same military men wey him dey take guard body against the masses go kill am when the time comes.

Nigeria shall outlive GEJ and his cohorts.

wandooooo it is NOT GEJ but his advicers

GEJ loves Nigeria but his advicers are doing him a great disservice

alj harem:

wandooooo it is NOT GEJ but his advicers

GEJ loves Nigeria but his advicers are doing him a great disservice

A man with no words of his own is not fit to live. What stops GEJ from calling his cohorts to order or is he not the President again? He should rather resign if he feels his integrity has been compromised, that's how to be a man.

nic pics
lets see where this will end,

[img]http://s03.flagcounter.com/map/FMv/size=t/txt=000000/border=CCCCCC/pageviews=1/viewers=3[/img][img]http://2.s03.flagcounter.com/count/FMv/bg=00CC66/txt=000000/border=000000/columns=1/maxflags=1/viewers=3/labels=1/pageviews=1/[/img][img]http://s03.flagcounter.com/count/FMv/bg=00CC66/txt=000000/border=000000/columns=1/maxflags=1/viewers=3/labels=1/pageviews=1/[/img]

warri no dey carry last indeed!

These are Fulani Islamic Jihadist parasites from the North North

My Personal Note: Whilst it was shocking to hear the news of subsidy removal on New year’s eve. I personally felt that the decision is somewhat sudden and “harsh” especially when Nigerians were not prepared for this. Some had made plans for the New year and may have budgeted money only to hear the shocking news. This was amidst ongoing negotiations by the Panel constituted for that purpose to argue for the need and find out how to cushion the effects thru the placement of adequate palliative methods. Many felt shocked at the insensitivity of the PPRA in making the announcement. I can not here hold brief for the Government as to what reasons they may have seen from their own position and based on the Stark facts available to them for which the decision to announce the removal of Subsidy on Jan1,2012 was made. While the procedure may have been crude, yet the arguments are not entirely out of place for the removal of Subsidy. However, in Nigeria where we have been saddled with corruption from different governments, politicians, or militricians and or political parties, whether they be PDP, ACN, APP, NPN etal during these our 53yrs of cohabitation. Moreso especially when Senators, Representatives, ministers, irrespective of their[b] party affiliations, religious inclinations and ethnicities[/b] collect jumbo pay and whenever convenient borrow billions from banks to share personal allowances running to millions among themselves with nobody being brought to book. It is also pertinent to note, that not one of these So called Politicians irrespective of their parties,creeds, ideology, or religion have come out to say that on the basis of conscience they have refused these MONIES and that they are making sacrifices to show their Love for the interests of this country and identify with the masses.
In fact certain persons, who once were in government formulating similar policies have suddenly turned “Pro People” and “Anti Oppression”. Hmmmmm!!! Skillful politicians are adept on riding to achieve their ambitions on the sentiments of the gullible and frenzied masses.
While these calls and the Demonization of GEJ is currently in full swing let me also sound a very strong note of caution to well-meaning and sincere agitators for an equitable distribution of wealth irrespective of one’s social strata in society. To be careful, and vigilant less they be the machinery that are blindly fighting to bring about the REALIZATION of an ominous and SINISTER Evil upon themselves unawares. As a matter of fact the times we are calls for the exercise of such vigilance irrespective of the Let downs and feelings of insensitivity we may have about government. For to be FOREWARNED is to be FORE-ARMED!!
What is the real agenda being played out in the fight against “INJUSTICE” Made even more worrisome in the context of massive killings, systematic executions, mass genocide being carried about by fundamentalist in parts of the country. Is there any correlation, with the present situation unfolding before our eyes??
From the Mahdist Islamic movements of Sudan in the 1890's, which the British helped Squash after the brutal massacre in Khartoum of a British Army officer, to the Revolution of the Sheik Usman fodio against the then Hausa rulers of Gobir, to the present days revolution in places like Egypt, Tunisia et al.

One thing is common. These fundamentalist organise their disciples into a ragtag army crying against INJUSTICE and seem to be fighting for injustice only to consolidate their Strict rule of Religious dominance in those Societies (ala Afghanistan). Back then in Omdurman, Sudan; the British were not fooled by such Crap.

They dealt a death blow to the Mahdist movement. We hear today that these events are political and not religious. In fact the gruesome murder of Christians having a prayer meetion about 7:30pm in Deeper life gombe this week was attributed to robbers and criminals. NOBODY, and i repeat, NOBODY should come fool us with such gibberish and balderdash. WE are not FOOLED [/b]by these same rhetoric with which the SULTAN exonerated the Bombings caused by BOKO HARAM as a mere handiwork of political agitations. It is a deep seated agitation by a fast dying oligarchy who feel they are loosing out of power and are desperate by all means possible to regain their domination of Power, politically, judicially,militarily and economically.

Hear Winston Churchil on the River War, written about 110 yrs ago.

“How dreadful are the curses which Mohammedanism lays on its votaries!
Besides the fanatical frenzy, which is as dangerous in a man as hydrophobia in a dog, there is this fearful fatalistic apathy. The effects are apparent in many countries. Improvident habits, slovenly systems of agriculture, sluggish methods of commerce, and insecurity of property exist wherever the followers of the creed rule or live, [b]Individual Moslems may show splendid qualities. , all know how to die; but the influence of the religion paralyses the social development of those who follow it. (SEE what has happened to Northern Nigeria Over the years, despite their dominant rule in the last 50years. The difference between them and those in the south being that they took advantage of western missionary education by their numbers.) No stronger retrograde force exists in the world. Far from being [b]moribund, Mohammedanism is a militant [/b]and proselytizing faith. It has already spread throughout Central Africa, raising FEARLESS WARRIORS at every step; and were it not that Christian Europe is sheltered in the strong arms of science (the science against which it had vainly struggled) the civilisation of modern Europe might fall, as fell the civilisation of ancient Rome.
Hear Churchill,
About the modern machinery of war and its effectiveness against native terrorist tribesmen:
“ , the Maxim guns had also come into action. A dozen Dervishes are standing on a sandy knoll. All in a moment the dust began to jump in front of them, and then the clump of horsemen melts into a jumble on the ground, and a couple of scared survivors scurry to cover. Yet even then a few brave men come back to help their fallen comrades. end of quote.

Today, the effect of that science is in the possession of nuclear bombs, UAV’s ,cluster bombs and a SUPERIOR War technology.{italics mine}

By the way, i have not heard of Sharia banking 4sometime now after accusing, shaming and denouncing some people of grave injustice in managing the banks!!!!

These times call for ETERNAL VIGILANCE. The Coptics in Egypt after fighting for "INJUSTICE" alongside their fanatical brethren have their asses, finger burnt as repayment. We even had people who showed us pictures of how they were protecting their "brethren" from other faiths from the POLICE while praying on the internet to show their “UNITY” in fighting against “INJUSTICE” and “OPPRESSION”. Shortly after the ouster of Mubarak, they Were visited with the real aims of fundamental Islamist dragons, [b]BOMBINGS, BOMBINGS, BOMBINGS, BOMBINGS, BOMBINGS, Assassinations and DEATHS[/b] in their numbers within their Churches. After Sufficiently intimidating and harassing these gullible comrades they have now tried to enforce the religious dominance in that country!!!

Make no mistake about this. There is a RELIGIOUS JIHAD being WAGED by a section of HOLY WARRIORS in accordance with the strict interpretation of their Creed. It is all summed up in this statement by Sheik Othman Dan Fodio.

"In his book Tanbih al-ikhwan ’ala ahwal al-Sudan (“Concerning the Government of Our Country and Neighboring Countries in the Sudan”) Usman writes:
“The government of a country is the government of its king without question. If the king is a Muslim, his land is Muslim; if he is an Unbeliever, his land is a land of Unbelievers. In these circumstances it is obligatory for anyone to leave it for another country”. [1]. In fact, Usman did exactly this when he left Gobir in 1802. After that Yunfa turned for aid to the other leaders of the Hausa states, warning them that dan Fodio could trigger a widespread Jihad. [4]. Eventually, he did and it was the first major Jihad for the series of Jihads which were surging during the 18th and 19th century across Sudan and the neighboring states. It was called the Sokoto Jihad and it took place in Hausaland. He finally withdrew his people to Gudu in 1802 and after 2 years, in 1804, he rose up and overthrew the unjust rulers.
In Islam Outside the Arab World, David Westerlung writes: “The jihad resulted in a federal theocratic state, with extensive autonomy for emirates, recognizing the spiritual authority of the caliph or the sultan of Sokoto.”[3] That means that Usman achieved his goal to raise the Muslim law above the power of the government which is one of his main ideas in his written works. In Tanbih al-ikhwan ’ala ahwal al-Sudan. He further writes: “As for the sultans(leaders of other African tribes practicing Islam), they are undoubtedly unbelievers, even though they may profess the religion of Islam, because they practice polytheistic rituals and turn people away from the path of God and raise the flag of worldly kingdom above the banner of Islam. All this is unbelief according to the consensus of opinions.”
Usman points out in his books many of the flaws and demerits of the African non-Muslim or Nominal Muslim rulers. Some of these are corruption on various levels of the administration along with absurdity and injustice regarding ordinary people’s rights. Usman is strongly criticizing the heavy taxation and obstruction created in the business and trade of the Hausa states by the law system. One can assume he was fighting for common equality according to the Muslim law which was inexistent before 1804.

It is astonishing how the call for overthrow of unjust rulers from Gudu(Gobir) managed to spread throughout the whole county as the Sokoto Jihad. The communication was carried along trade routes and rivers draining to the Niger-Benue valley, as well as the delta and the lagoons. The call for Jihad did not only reach other Hausa states such as Kano, Katsina and Zaria but also Borno, Gombe, Adamawa, Nupe and Ilorin. These were all places with major or minor groups of Fulani alims.

Hmmmmmm, this special writing of Sheik uthman fodio, a man with uncommon supernatural powers, about the countries surrounding SUDAN makes a clear pointer to what we have been saying !!!!, the SPIRIT OF SUDAN- that EVILPOWER that has gripped that country for years causing intolerant oppressive rule of the South,,,,,,cast your mind back on The supporter of APC mercenaries that operate BOKO HARAM Style b4 the Indepenence of South Sudan. That Powerful Spirit is seeking Solace here in Nigeria. We Bind and Cast OUT of our land that PRINCIPALITY DEMON in the name of Jesus.
With reference to that great philosopher George Wilfried Hegel in his treatise of Dialectics from which Karl Marx and Engels further derived their theory of Dialectical materialism. He posited unequivocally that through a process of thesis, anti thesis and Synthesis, the material world in history is heading toward the realization of the Ultimate idea of the Supernatural Force in creation. What is this idea which is coming to fruition in our present day with the Events of the 1979 Revolutions in Iran, sept11 bombings and the American war in the Gulf, the so called Arab Spring. We turn again to a Legend and the ultimate seer and a man of uncommon foresight of the Last century who lived in france in the 1500’s; Michel de NOSTRADAMUS. A man who correctly predicted different events in divers places including wars fought and personalities that mark special events of the modern world 500 years after his time. You go and read his predictions about the last major World War or World War 3, the Players and the theatre of the Action. Those who fail to heed the wisdom of history are bound to inevitably repeat it and also be consumed from the face of the earth by it.
On a very sober note, here this words.
Uthman Dan Fodio, had a very disturbing dream around the middle of the 2nd decade of 1800’s. In which it was revealed that this kingdom he has established by the shedding of so much blood will last for just 200years.
Watchout, Be Alert as you agitate and ponder again!! THE ALARM IS SOUNDING VERY CLEAR. Say not, i never knew this is what it shall come to. BEWARE!!!!!!!!BEWARE!!!!!!!!! BEWARE!!!!!!!!!BEWARE!!!!!!!!!!!

@Dayo, No, they are Irhobo Jihadist from the SS.

Good Move

If you analyse the number of protesters so far compared with voters in these areas, you would no doubt come to the conclusion that these protests have failed. As the saying goes "minority will have their say but the majority will have their way". So ya all protesters, subsidy removal have come to stay. Guy, don't dwell on it, deal with it.

E nice:

If you analyse the number of protesters so far compared with voters in these areas, you would no doubt come to the conclusion that these protests have failed. As the saying goes "minority will have their say but the majority will have their way". So ya all protesters, subsidy removal have come to stay. Guy, don't dwell on it, deal with it.

LOL another Mo.ron on the loose. Keep using bigotry to becloud ur judgement. I would not be surprise if you are beaf, sorry to say

Moreover the whole country is protesting so who are the majority if I may ask ?

The government can remove subsidy in the the eastern states not SW, NE, NW, NC and delta, edo

thank you

All these protests is just an opportunity for criminals and miscreants to unleash their plans on the people.pls be vigilaante .

E nice:

If you analyse the number of protesters so far compared with voters in these areas, you would no doubt come to the conclusion that these protests have failed. As the saying goes "minority will have their say but the majority will have their way". So ya all protesters, subsidy removal have come to stay. Guy, don't dwell on it, deal with it.

Exactly! Even the smallest owambe's boast several times their miserable number of "revolutionaries!" LOLZZZ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

E nice:

If you analyse the number of protesters so far compared with voters in these areas, you would no doubt come to the conclusion that these protests have failed. As the saying goes "minority will have their say but the majority will have their way". So ya all protesters, subsidy removal have come to stay. Guy, don't dwell on it, deal with it.

dvmb u! this is how it started in Tunisia. not everyone came out in the first 10days

humblebee:

dvmb u! this is how it started in Tunisia. not everyone came out in the first 10days

thank you, Imagine even beaf is laughing at some people stu.pidity while making his own money

Beaf:

Exactly! Even the smallest owambe's boast several times their miserable number of "revolutionaries!" LOLZZZ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Beaf,u are just right.The truth is that majority of the people are in support of the susidy removal ,though its going to be tough now ,but we must push ahead as a nation .In my office 80 percent of the workers are pro subsidy removaal.The protests cum strike can't be sustained .Things will deffinitely get better .

The momentum is gathering even in their backyard while they are still locked in denial.

The truth is a huge percentage of youths are against it and that's a huge problem for the govt except they want to turn a blind eye to it. Those of us that thought removing it was a good idea are completely appalled by the govt's blatant disregard for its populace in sneaking the announcement on us and have joined the anti-subsidy camp. The momentum is building on social networks especially Twitter, u just need to search for #occupyNigeria (already trending worldwide) to see for urself. This will gradually translate into a real revolution outside the social networks and we shall get what we want; a government of the people not of its pocket.

I just hope GEJ will read the writings on the wall and do the right things before removing the subsidy.

samstels:

Beaf,u are just right.The truth is that majority of the people are in support of the susidy removal ,though its going to be tough now ,but we must push ahead as a nation .In my office 80 percent of the workers are pro subsidy removaal.The protests precipitate strike can't be sustained .Things will deffinitely get better .

Don't mind them, they just hired a group of their hungry friends to walk around the place stup!dly, thinking people don't know their neighbourhoods better than them.
I really pity the fungal pimple called alj haram, he has proven that his brain was transplanted from a chimp.

am not happy  

Beaf:

Don't mind them, they just hired a group of their hungry friends to walk around the place stup!dly, thinking people don't know their neighbourhoods better than them.
I really pity the fungal pimple called alj haram, he has proven that his brain was transplanted from a chimp.

Beaf is getting very vexed these days. Mu che che che che che

samstels:

Beaf,u are just right.The truth is that majority of the people are in support of the susidy removal ,though its going to be tough now ,but we must push ahead as a nation .In my office 80 percent of the workers are pro subsidy removaal.The protests precipitate strike can't be sustained .Things will deffinitely get better .

beaf keep using propaganda

It seems like we have blind people in this nation or just pure stu.pid people that is why OUR NATION WOULD NEVER EVER BE A GREAT BETTER NATION. SO STU.PID

EVERYONE WANTS SUBSIDY TO BE REMOVED

but what is the point if there are no refinarires ?

What is the point since government officals would just increase their salaries ?

2mch:

Beaf is getting very vexed these days. Mu che che che che che

Me vex? LOLZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!!!
I'm here chil'n, sip'n me drink and watching your id!ocy with awe! Its a spectacle, bruv!

Do you people dance with monkeys too?

Beaf:

Me vex? LOLZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!!!
I'm here chil'n, sip'n me drink and watching your id!ocy with awe! Its a spectacle, bruv!

Do you people dance with monkeys too?

can you explain this ?

www.nairaland.com/attachments/609333_fuelsubsidylindaikejiblog_pngceb73d15478f80742891a26c8d4b4040

@gbawe
Believe me your recent post is the dumbest I have seen on NL. Ever! I mean it. How could you see police trucks with warri inscribed on them, and you still blind your eyes of reasoning with a veil of ignorance, of biblical proportions. You are probably wasting bandwidth meant for more resourceful people. Pls sign out and pray for God's wisdom. You really need it. Intact I will go on my knees for you now! Nothing personal

And let me humbly tell you, whatever comes of Nigeria's parting, the SS will be the worse for it except maybe edo and drlta that are ancestrally related to yorubas. The SS will be worse than Iraq. The SE are hardworking and developed technologically. The SS?? Ha! I fear o. Before you think it, please let your governments really educate your people. You can be sure you guys there are not ready for self determination. It's boyloaf, government,GEJ. Deziani- warlords, opportunists and conmen that are your idols and role models. Only they will profit eventually. Think well o.

And please, save yourself the energy you expend o. Hating one tribe against the other. It's all the fault of the British. Any day Any time, even the British knew the yoruba's are way ahead any culture in West Africa and arguably in Africa, along Benin kingdom. And save your seething criticism of northerners! You can't even bunch them as they are multiethnic. They are hard working. They leave within their means. They may not be educated in western style but they have Arabic learning. And they have lots of small businesses. I doubt if their level of poverty will be different had Nigeria had no oil. It's their elite that are to blame for their woes.

Seek to correct yourself before you think of correcting others. Judge not, that you not be judged.

God bless

9jaCrusade:

@gbawe
Believe me your recent post is the dumbest I have seen on NL. Ever! I mean it. How could you see police trucks with warri inscribed on them, and you still blind your eyes of reasoning with a veil of ignorance, of biblical proportions. You are probably wasting bandwidth meant for more resourceful people. Pls sign out and pray for God's wisdom. You really need it. Intact I will go on my knees for you now! Nothing personal

And let me humbly tell you, whatever comes of Nigeria's parting, the SS will be the worse for it except maybe edo and drlta that are ancestrally related to yorubas. The SS will be worse than Iraq. The SE are hardworking and developed technologically. The SS?? Ha! I fear o. Before you think it, please let your governments really educate your people. You can be sure you guys there are not ready for self determination. It's boyloaf, government,GEJ. Deziani- warlords, opportunists and conmen that are your idols and role models. Only they will profit eventually. Think well o.

And please, save yourself the energy you expend o. Hating one tribe against the other. It's all the fault of the British. Any day Any time, even the British knew the yoruba's are way ahead any culture in West Africa and arguably in Africa, along Benin kingdom. And save your seething criticism of northerners! You can't even bunch them as they are multiethnic. They are hard working. They leave within their means. They may not be educated in western style but they have Arabic learning. And they have lots of small businesses. I doubt if their level of poverty will be different had Nigeria had no oil. It's their elite that are to blame for their woes.

Seek to correct yourself before you think of correcting others. Judge not, that you not be judged.

God bless

dude that was sarcasim by Gbawe used to mock Beaf and other Bigots on this thread

https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-838107.0.html

Gbawe is not a bigot, the real Bigots are beaf and his goons. thanks

My apologies then. I direct it to the bigots then

9jaCrusade:

My apologies then. I direct it to the bigots then

OK egbon mi, the only bigots here is beaf and his goons. No one else

Hmmn. . .

9jaCrusade:

My apologies then. I direct it to the bigots then

My brother, no yawa. My post was mockery directed at those who want to stoke ethnic and religious bias (same as they did before the election to land us with GEJ) as if it is not all Nigerians who will feel the pain of subsidy removal. They tell us SS and SE are not protesting. Even if that is the case, all I see is indoctrination that leads folks to cut their nose to spite their face. I only see the blind "keep faith " and "we are persecuted" mentality that , for example, let David koresh indoctrinate many fragile and clannish souls towards their needless deaths in Waco, Texas.

How can the SS and SE blindly support fraud and corruption? The reality is that we should be asking the GEJ Government some serious questions as Nigerians instead of some , because they are from his region, giving him 'bow and go' carte blanche when , from logical evidence, this man may actually be robbing us blind with how he is a big part of the problem he is pretending to be finding a solution for. Let me add a personal appendage to the consideration that "evil thrive when good men do nothing". I say; negative reputation endures about those who glaringly did nothing while evil thrived. The author of the article below, Ifeanyi Izeze, will be shaking his head in disbelief now if reading Nairaland. He would be baffled at the sort of clannishness that blind some from seeing what is so obvious. The conclusion of Ifeanyi is very appropriate i.e  "Yeye country, where yeye people hold sway at the expense of good and serious –minded ones".




http://www.ngex.com/news/public/article.php?ArticleID=2009

Nigeria: Fuel Subsidy - NNPC And The Governors Proposal
Author: Ifeanyi Izeze | September 26, 2011
A few weeks ago, the governors of the 36 states of the federation came up with a highly contentious issue of fuel subsidy withdrawal at the height of the crisis generated by the issue of payment of the new minimum wage. The problem with the governors’ proposal was not in the message but in the messengers and its delivery as they spoke more like politicians than business-minded administrators who have a genuine and patriotic case against the entire concept of subsidy and the huge resources channeled through the racket.

Whether the governors under the aegis of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF), as alleged, actually pressured the President, Goodluck Jonathan to remove fuel subsidy so they could free more money to pay the agreed minimum wage, is by all patriotic intent, immaterial in this case. The real issue that needs to be addressed is whether in actual sense, fuel products are being subsidized in this country for direct benefit of the ordinary people. Chairman of the Governors Forum, the Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Amaechi was very right when he alleged that “these people, these fuel contractors, are just carting away our money and doing nothing.”

[size=14pt]The National Assembly and the Presidency allocated only N240 billion for fuel subsidy in 2011 budget but by August end, the NNPC has spent N931 billion on fuel subsidy, a whopping N771 billion or 700 percent above the budgetary allocation. And nobody is talking about the serious challenges the current fuel subsidy management poses to the implementation of the 2011 budget. As rightly said by Senator Saraki, who is moving for the probe of the illegal spending on fuel subsidy, the NNPC and the Petroleum Ministry breached the 2011 Appropriation Act by spending N931 billion on fuel subsidy between January and August 2011.[/size]

[size=14pt]First, this extra-budgetary spending is an outright contravention of Section 80 of the 1999 Constitution and beyond that, at the rate they are going over N1.2 trillion would have been spent outside the budgetary allocation before December 31, 2011. Is this how to run a country? A copy of Saraki’s motion as published in the Senate on Wednesday September 14th Order Paper reads: “In furtherance of the implementation of the fuel subsidy, an amount is budgeted in the Appropriation Act. In 2011, the sum of N240 billion (N20 billion monthly) was allocated.
[/size]
“The N20 billion monthly allocated, N11.2 billion was allocated for Domestic Fuel Subsidy (NNPC) and N8.8 billion for Domestic Fuel Subsidy (Market) as stated in the 2011 Appropriation Act. Although the N20 billion was set aside for subsidy on a monthly basis in the Appropriation Act, 2011. In August 2011, the total figure expended was N165 billion of which NNPC was N88 billion and independent marketers was N77.7 billion.

“Although the N240 billion was budgeted for the entire year, so far, as at the end of August 2011, N931 billion has been spent. This is a variance of N771 billion or 700 per cent above budget. “The Senate is worried that in the first three months of the year, both NNPC and independent marketers did not exceed N62 billion monthly but within the last three months, figures have ranged between N150 billion and N186 billion.

“With this trend, year-end, we will have a fuel subsidy bill of over N1.2 trillion as against N240 billion budgeted in the Appropriation Act.”

Amaechi and his Governors Forum should actually re-caption their protest from withdrawal of subsidy on petroleum products to opposition of the continued criminal diversion of our highly-needed resources into the pockets of the faceless cartel that is active in and around the Presidency, NNPC and Ministry of Petroleum Resources. When we re-christen the racket, the true purpose will be clearly understood by all concerned Nigerians. Agreed that all governments around the world subsidize the existence of their citizens, but is it proper for NNPC, PPPRA and PEF officials to take the opportunity of government’s good intention to continue to shortchange all of us? Government and its agencies especially the NNPC have continued to confuse Nigerians with this fuel subsidy business. The question is: are we subsidizing to make fuel cheap and readily available to the citizenry or to make importation more lucrative?

Despite what the NNPC and their masters in and around government since the days of Obsanjo want us to believe, the nation’s existing three and half refineries, if optimally functional, can meet our daily domestic fuel needs. It is also an established fact that the cost of production of a litre of PMS (petrol) by our refineries is far below N65 per litre. This is the truth. But how can the refineries function optimally when government and its NNPC people seem to be deliberately making the plants sick so the nation can continue to import petroleum products? Many of the figures being dished out by the PPPRA could best be described as phantom. What pricing are you regulating when artificial scarcities are deliberately created and petrol sells for between N300 and N65 per litre depending on where you are in the country?

Why is the PPPRA chairman not canvassing for a taskforce approach in the management of the nation’s existing refineries or even harmonizing per litre price across the country since his job is to ensure equitable pricing? What is actually the use of PPPRA to the “real” people of this country? The agency is just another conduit for the misuse of public funds and that is why we keep seeing funny people scramble to administer it. Let’s look at another subsidy drain pipe- The Petroleum Equalisation Fund (PEF). They allegedly administer a price equalization scheme to ensure the sustenance of Government policy of uniform pump prices for petroleum products nation- wide. What do they do? Has the equalization fund ever done anything to harmonise prices of fuel across the country or they merely sit down and work out how much money to share?

Different states have different pump prices so what are they harmonizing? The man in Brass and Nembe areas of Bayelsa and the man in Yenagoa pay different rates for petrol, diesel and kerosene. For Abia state, every filling station sells at different prices and it takes only the NNPC and some majors’ outlets to sell petrol at the so called government- allowed N65 kobo per litre. Fuel price in Port Harcourt metropolis is very different from prices in Oyigbo, parts of Ogoni and Etche areas of the same Rivers state. In the northern parts of the country, fuel sells for N65 kobo per litre only in major cities. Elsewhere, they sell in the range of N120-N300 per litre depending on where you are in the far north. And the story is just the same across all the six geo-political zones, so what is the Petroleum, Equalisation Fund equalizing?

Is it not funny that PEF exist to “administer bridging payment scheme to complement the NNPC pipeline distribution network of petroleum products to all the depot areas nation-wide, during breakdown/maintenance of local refineries and or pipeline breaks.” Bridging is the movement of petroleum products by long distance road haulage (above 450 kilometres) from a depot/refinery to another depot experiencing scarcity. And we know that none of the existing PPMC pipeline system has 100 percent integrity to transport products to the depots. So do we still need to look for the people bursting products pipelines across the country to ensure they continue to siphon our collective wealth in the name of bridging?

Meanwhile, PEF relies on Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) to make available all relevant data and operational information on marketers; to confirm products lifted and received at the depots by stamping and signing freight documents; to submit the list of licensed filling stations and their locations; to ensure that products are not diverted but are sold at properly designated stations; Ensure that products are sold at approved rates amongst other functions.

So what does PEF exist for when they rely entirely on DPR to do almost everything? They just collect huge trillions of naira for doing nothing and are using the resources avalaible to them to manipulate the PIB so that they can be accommodated in the ongoing or rather grossly compromised re-structuring of the nation’s oil industry. Yeye country, where yeye people hold sway at the expense of good and serious –minded ones.

Ifeanyi Izeze is an Abuja-Based Consultant On Strategy And Communication
(iizeze at yahoo dot com; 08033043009)

What sort of office show protest is this??
They were so scanty that the OP had to include the photos of a bullion van and other vehicles caught in the traffick just to make up the numbers of the "protesters"