OPINION: SUBSIDY REMOVAL, GALLOPING INFLATION AND THE CONSPIRACY OF SILENCE WHERE ARE THE PATRIOTS?

REMOVAL, GALLOPING INFLATION AND THE CONSPIRACY OF SILENCE

WHERE ARE THE PATRIOTS?

The implication of subsidy removal in Nigeria is that the country may face social unrest, inflation, higher transportation costs, and increased production costs. Economists have warned that the removal of fuel subsidy and the increase of pump price to N600 would put more pressure on disposable income and push more Nigerians into poverty. The higher fuel prices would also affect the cost of transportation, public services, and goods.

A conspiracy of silence is an agreement to say nothing about an issue that should be generally known. This expression appears to have originated with the French philosopher Auguste Comte (1798–1857).

A conspiracy of silence, or culture of silence, describes the behavior of a group of people of some size, as large as an entire national group or profession or as small as a group of colleagues, that by unspoken consensus does not mention, discuss, or acknowledge a given subject. The practice may be motivated by positive interest in group solidarity or by such negative impulses as fear of political repercussion or social ostracism. It differs from avoiding a taboo subject in that the term is applied to more limited social and political contexts rather than to an entire culture. As a descriptor, conspiracy of silence implies dishonesty, sometimes cowardice, sometimes privileging loyalty to one social or political group over another. As a social practice, it is rather more extensive than the use of euphemisms to avoid addressing a topic directly.

Some instances of such a practice are sufficiently well-known or enduring to become known by their own specific terms, including code of silence for the refusal of law enforcement officers to speak out against crimes committed by fellow officers and cultural code of organized crime in Sicily.

A conference of social workers and medical personnel in 1936 urged greater efforts to prevent the spread of syphilis by New York City and state. An official of the federal government said they needed to bring the problems "out in the open" to overcome a "conspiracy of silence" that prevented public education efforts.

Government decisions and policies have a direct impact on the lives of the citizens as individuals and the wellbeing of the nation and the people.

When the policies impact negatively on the people the citizenry becomes restive. Sometimes some policies of government do not go well with the will of the people. The policies may at times be well intended but end up hurting to the populace. This may be due to wrong implementation strategies. Not consulting with the right people on the mode of implementation and effects may also be responsible.

The government may however be called to order by a viable legislature, being the representatives of the people. However in most African Nations the legislative arm does not live up to its duties. They are merely an appendage of the executive.

The opposition therefore gets saddled with the responsibility of coming to the rescue. They however may be tagged biased.

The last card is when the citizens resort to self-help.

From the colonial era through the years of military interregnum the lot had fallen on Workers Unions and the Civil Society Organizations. Their weapons have always included strikes, protests and civil disobedience.

Government has had to negotiate and shift their stands if not totally take a U-turn.

The Goodluck Jonathan led government in Nigeria had contemplated removing subsidy on petroleum occasioning a marginal increase in the pump price of the product. A number of palliative measures had been put in place under the SURE-P programme. This programme was to use the money saved from subsidy removal to provide cushioning effects for whatever pains the increase might have caused.

When the subsidy removal was finally announced in the new year of 2012 all hell was let loose.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spuQjBmlk4k

The Unions, the Civil Society, Student Unions, Professional bodies and the general public hit the streets. Leading the protests was a group the named itself THE PATRIOTS. The slogan OCCUPY NIGERIA caught up like wild fire.

Leaders of opinion, Opposition leaders, Legal luminaries and the giants of the academia joined in. A Nobel laureate, Celebrities, the Media (Print, electronic and Social), Nollywood stars and the Music industry gave their backing.

Speeches were given. Songs were waxed as hours went into days.

Economic and social life were brought to a halt.

The country stood still and the Jonathan Government was brought to its knees.

The song was “NO TO SUBSIDIES”, “REMOVE CORRUPTION, NOT SUBSIDY”

Various speakers told the world there was nothing like subsidy, hence there was nothing to remove.

Championing the “OCCUPY NIGERIA” were people like General Muhamadu Buhari, Ashiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Pastor Tunde Bakare, Professor Wole Soyinka, Fawehinmi’s son, Dr Oby Ezekwesili, Fela Durotoye and many others. They hit the streets and they really moved the people against the government of the day.

Muhamadu Buhari later became the President of the same Nigeria they OCCUPIED. The narrative changed. Talk of subsidies and how much the government spent on subsidies became rife throughout the 8-year tenure. In the last days of the Buhari administration fuel prices and availability, and a NO CASH policy boomeranged leaving the people distraught and frustrated. Yet nobody thought it was necessary to OCCUPY NIGERIA.

He was succeeded by his co-PATRIOT Bola Tinubu.

Tinubu announced removal of subsidy the minute he was sworn in as President.

https://web.facebook.com/watch/?v=271397582213459

The ripple effect was immediate. Price of Premium Motor Spirit went up. Goods and services became more expensive. Life became unbearable. Petrol pump price shot up from 180 Naira to 500 naira per liter. The government owned NNPCL announced the increase. The ooohs and aahs had hardly died down when the price was jerked up to between 600 naira and 650 naira depending on the location.

The GALLOPPING INFLATION was dehumanizing.

A couple of policies followed all making life worse for the common man.

The government, unapologetic, termed these policies as necessary evil.

A number of perfunctory palliatives were announced which again took little or no cognizance of the lower class but gave chunks to the high-earning legislators who are not really affected by the galloping inflation created.

Basic necessities of life started getting beyond the reach of the average Nigerian.

Organized labour huffed and puffed until a strike was called.

But one thing surprises me.

Apart from Presidents Buhari and Tinubu, where are the other PATRIOTS?

Why is nobody talking?

Professor Soyinka

Pastor Bakare

The Musicians

Nollywood Actors

Gentlemen of wig and gown

Dr Ezekwesili

Great orators like Fela Durotoye

The Civil Society

Faith based Organizations

So many others

Why have they suddenly gone silent?

Where are the PATRIOTS?

Why have they suddenly become unPATRIOTic?

Should we then conclude their decision to OCCUPY NIGERIA in 2012 was not out of PATRIOTic zeal but for selfish and parochial interests?

Or could it be their purpose was politically partisan; to get a particular set of people into government? And now their purposes are achieved? Are they really PATRIOTS or parts of a grand conspiracy to foist their choice on the people?

Shall we say the masses were fooled by the PATRIOTS who led them to OCCUPY NIGERIA?

There must actually have been a CONSPIRACY OF SILENCE by the PATRIOTS and they can no more OCCUPY NIGERIA