Opinion
THE OPPRESSORS WHO LOVE THE OPPRESSED
THE OPPRESSORS WHO LOVE THE OPPRESSED
By Owei Lakemfa
IT is bizarre. The International Monetary Fund, IMF, calling on the government to protect the poor from the impact of the fuel price hikes it engineers! To add to its criminal thought process against the Nigerian people, the same IMF is telling the Tinubu administration that fuel prices in Nigeria are too low and need to be increased because it is allegedly selling below market price. What market?
To understand this, we need to know that the Western Europe-owned IMF and its Siamese American twin, the World Bank, have since 1981 told every successive Nigerian government that our petroleum product prices are too cheap and must be increased. Based on their ‘advice’, every successive Nigerian government increases the price of petrol. The more government increases the price, the more impoverished Nigerians become to the extent that even as an oil-endowed and oil-rich country, Nigeria became the poverty capital of the world. Yet, the West imposes ever more pressure that the price be increased.
Let me give you an idea of the depths the IMF and World Bank have pushed us. When this shoving of Nigerian governments started under the Shagari administration, a litre of fuel was raised from 15.3 Kobo to 20 Kobo. Then as part of so-called reforms and the ruinous Structural Adjustment Programme, SAP, the Babangida regime first moved the price on March 31, 1986 to 39.5K, then, two years later to 42K , on to 60K, and finally, 70K.
The illegal Shonekan interim regime moved it to N5, Abacha reduced it two weeks later to N3.25 before moving it to N15 and two days later reducing it to N11. The Abubakar regime took it to N25 before reducing it 17 days later to N20. Obasanjo in a series of increases took it to N70 and Buhari took it to N238 before handing over to Tinubu on May 29, 2023. In the last 15 months, President Tinubu has increased the price, first to N545.883, then to N617, and now to N897.
The goals of the IMF and World Bank are to dominate the world on behalf of the West, discourage production by the underdeveloped countries and ensure they remain providers of raw materials. Part of their strategy is to bury client states in unnecessary and doubtful debts and, reduce them to junk status.
Anybody who thinks that these Western vehicles of underdevelopment have by their expression of sympathy with the poor become humane or repentant is mistaken. The IMF and World Bank are bandit organisations, ever-ready to steal from the poor and deprive the hungry child even half a loaf of bread.
They are undertakers of the West who dig the graves of the poor and underdeveloped countries and bury their hopes and, possibly, their future. So, if they express sympathy with the plight of their victims, it is not skin-deep. It is like a person carrying out cosmetic surgery, that in itself neither changes the age, nor the person.
In the midst of mass misery, deprivation, hunger and anger, the narration is being pushed that our political elites admire China and would want Nigeria to develop like the Chinese. Yet, they would not take the basic steps towards development the children of Chairman Mao Tse Tung and Chui Enlai have taken. Not even to start with the most basic step, which is to develop a thought process.
The basic principle of China is that the business of the Chinese government is business; in contrast, the Nigerian government says it has no business in business. So, how can the Chinese reforms be its model? In China, there is crime and punishment as indeed should be in any sane clime. In Nigeria, there is crime, but punishment depends on social status. As the ruling All Progressive Congress, APC, had often told its opponents, come over and join us, and all your sins (crimes) are forgiven. Indeed, it is easier for the camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a politically-connected Nigerian elite to be successfully tried in court. Even if by happenstance he were found guilty, there is a guarantee that he would not spend his full prison term behind bars.
So, when government claimed that the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, President Joe Ajaero was detained last week on his way to the United Kingdom because nobody is above the law, I am not sure anybody believed it. The issue of Ajaero is not about law, it is about lack of coordination in government and little veiled incompetence amongst the security services. How come almost every arm of the security services are inviting or arresting the same person for a sundry of known and unknown reasons?
The labour leader has been arrested, and even beaten by a state government and, multiple arms of the police and the secret services. I will not be surprised if local traffic wardens like LASMA arrest him to ‘assist with investigations’. So the issue about Nigerians like Ajaero and the youths on treason trial for publicly demonstrating their feelings, is not about Nigeria being a country of laws, but about social justice.
This, again, raises our claims to want the Chinese model of reforms. Unlike Nigeria where the law is supposed to be even-handed for every citizen, in China, the higher you are in public office, the higher your punishment. A crime in China, say for theft of public funds which would earn a lowly citizen years imprisonment, would fetch a highly placed public official the death penalty. Let me also say that from my observation of the Chinese legal system, punishment for crimes are carried out.
It is the failure to bring crooks to justice that has saddled Nigeria with lots of baggage that would not allow the democratic system breathe. For instance, our elections are a litany of crimes for which the perpetrators, including hired thugs, are richly rewarded. That is why certified street thugs in various parts of the country are multi-billionaires.
I feel ashamed as a Nigerian that each time elections are to be held, especially at national and state levels, former leaders, serving and past governors, senators, religious leaders, academics and security chiefs gather to sign peace accords with a promise not to rig elections or perpetrate violence. As it turns out, these agreements are not worth the paper on which they are written.
After such agreements, the peacemakers -I wonder who picks their bills – retire to their homes, and the gladiators in the elections do what they know best.
We can learn lessons on development but we will be deceiving ourselves if we think oppressors will fall in love with the oppressed. You can take this to the bank, including the World Bank.
Source: vanguard news
Opinion
Opinion: Northern Elders Outrage Over Uromi Killing: Is the North Alone in Tolerating Enough?
By Perez Bibaikefie
The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has strongly condemned the recent killing of northern hunters in Uromi, Edo State, describing the act as barbaric and unacceptable. The group, through its spokesperson, Professor Abubakar Jika Jiddere, issued a statement expressing deep concern over what they view as persistent violence against northerners.
According to a report by Daily Trust on March 29, the NEF asserted that the North has endured repeated attacks from certain parts of the South and declared that such incidents must stop. The group issued a list of demands, including the immediate arrest and prosecution of those responsible for the attack, payment of compensation to the victims’ families, and a formal apology from the Edo State Government. They insisted that justice must be served publicly to prevent future occurrences.
The NEF also called on both the Edo State Government and the Federal Government to take decisive action within fourteen days, warning that failure to do so could force the North to seek justice through other means. They urged authorities to ensure accountability and uphold peace in the country.
However, the killings in Uromi have sparked broader concerns about violence across Nigeria. Critics argue that the North has not been the only region affected by insecurity. Many communities in the South have also suffered from attacks, including those linked to Fulani herdsmen and armed groups who have invaded farmlands and highways.
A firsthand account from a victim of such violence recounts an attack on February 22, 2025, where a group of six men, including the writer, was ambushed and robbed. This incident adds to the growing frustration among Nigerians who feel that security threats are not limited to one region but are a nationwide crisis.
With tensions rising, some voices are calling for a national dialogue on the future of Nigeria, with suggestions of restructuring or regional separation to prevent further conflicts. As the country grapples with these pressing issues, the urgency for security reforms and justice for all victims of violence remains paramount.
Photo Credit: Dailytrust
“The more you look, is the less you see” – Max Romeo and the Upsetters.
In Nigeria, politics is a complex and intriguing race to be ahead of others – a conspiratorial race mainly geared towards a politician’s clout directly linked to the resources they can amass, and attract for their constituents. Only in Nigeria, someone who took fourth in a gubernatorial electoral contest was declared winner by the Supreme Court. Only in Nigeria, one who did not participate in a party primary election was declared the flag bearer of a political party, and subsequently won in the general election to become a Senator. Lest I forget, unlike Nelson Mandela, who after his release from prison, aspired to the Presidency of his country, South Africa, campaigned vigorously across the country and won the election; in Nigeria, a candidate of a political party who was in prison at the time of the campaigns and on election day, so could not campaign, and participate physically in the election, won the Senatorial election. These are impossibilities that can only be attained in the land of “anything is possible and achievable” – Nigeria; how laughable!
In every Nigerian administration, alongside the formal cabinet sanctioned by law and recognized by the populace, there exists a clandestine “kitchen cabinet”; not referring to the actual furniture! In recent times, numerous political analysts have pointed out the presence of such a “kitchen cabinet” within President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration. It is purported that President Tinubu leads this covert group, which notably includes Senate President Godswill Akpabio and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, whom they mockingly label as embodying “the three arms of government – executive, legislature, and judiciary respectively.” Additionally, the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajambiala, wields substantial influence, serving as the vital link to the President himself.
These individuals wield such tremendous authority that their words and actions seem to carry the weight of law – they have become unrestrained and dictatorial! Unchecked power resembles a drunken driver, oblivious to when to slow down. Likewise, unrestricted power can be likened to a bomb in the hands of a madman; such a figure will not only wreak havoc upon others but will inevitably bring about their self-destruction. Nevertheless, it is crucial to remember that unchecked power is akin to a storm; despite its fierce onslaught, with thunder and lightning, it will eventually yield to sunshine and tranquility in due time.
What many believed began as a benign “we we” arrangement in Abuja is morphing into a frenzied scramble for resources akin to fowls fighting over scraps, each peck going directly into its own gullet, oblivious to the fact that other fowls need nourishment too. Wike may have been one of those who constructed the elaborate setup, helped organize festivities, and even contributed Rivers State resources to the ongoing “Owambe Party” in Abuja. However, he ought to realize that indulging excessively in feasting, drinking, and dancing more than the original architects of the gathering will lead him to be perceived as a glutton and a reckless drunkard, ultimately barred from returning home on the same flight by the Capone’s Bouncers. Indeed, scrutiny is upon him; they are acutely aware that one who would betray a sibling for a mere plate of porridge would not hesitate to sell out an outsider for a handful of coins.
“Political Intrigues and the Fallacy of Loyalty in Nigeria: The Wike Conundrum”, encapsulates the fascinating political interplay of cunning, deception, and treachery taking place in Abuja. While Nyesom Wike performs the dirty work for the Capone in Aso Rock, Akpabio, in tandem with Gbajambiala, seizes the rewards, all the while the mastermind “pretends to be sleeping” – echoing the passive demeanor of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
Effective leadership requires a calm demeanor, respect, and the capacity to unify and lead impartially. In stark contrast, a bitter leadership style fails to foster healing and harmony; instead, it often cultivates negativity, resulting in failure and ultimately, self-destruction.
Is it truly mere happenstance that the appointed Administrator for Rivers State originates from Akwa-Ibom, Akpabio’s own state? Is it just an accident that the headquarters of the newly established South-South Development Commission, SSDC., recently enacted into law, is positioned in Akwa-Ibom? Is it simply coincidence that the inaugural Chairman of the SSDC is also a native of Akwa-Ibom? Is it a fluke that the Tai Police Training School designated for Rivers State has been relocated to Akwa-Ibom?
It is undeniable that Wike’s obstinate rejection of the sage counsel and heartfelt appeals from distinguished Rivers individuals and national figures, such as Siminalayi Fubara, to pursue peace and open dialogue with the Siminalayi Funara administration, has resulted in strife within his own State. This discord ultimately prompted President Tinubu to declare a state of emergency in Rivers. The selection of Vice Admiral Ekwe Ibas, who is not a Rivers native, has laid bare the State’s sensitive affairs to external observers, who would not have gained access to such confidential matters had Wike prioritized harmony. In Nigeria, where political maneuvering often serves as leverage, the potential for wielding hidden knowledge against him and the State in the future is not far-fetched.
Evaluating the consequences stemming from the suspension of democratic governance due to the emergency rule, alongside the actions and inactions of both the Federal and Rivers State governments, it is my assessment that Wike has made one of the most detrimental political choices in his career. He seems to have been utilized and subsequently cast aside, losing significant ground in the Rivers power dynamics and at “the top.” “When a king loses grip of his throne, his followers will look for a new throne.” It is my hope that the emergency rule being hailed by the “Wikeists” will ultimately serve the people of Rivers well, and that their celebratory mood will endure the test of time.
There is a saying among the Ijaw that goes, “etei mene yei me, emu weri mene bra ke, enanamo yei kpo ebamu weri mene.” This conveys the wisdom that as one criticizes the partner they are parting with, they will also inevitably cast aspersions on the one they are preparing to join with.
Wike is notably unpredictable; he engages in disparagement and ridicule of any individual or community that dares to disagree with him, despite the reality that many of those he derides, particularly within the Ijaw community, are in fact among his greatest benefactors and supporters.
I feel a measure of pity for him because one who chooses to demolish their own foundation for the sake of outsiders will find themselves without a shelter when hardship arises!
In conclusion, the political landscape in Nigeria, characterized by intrigue and manipulation, mirrors a battleground where alliances shift and loyalties are often fleeting. As the unfolding drama around Nyesom Wike illustrates, the struggles for power and recognition can transform even valued leaders into pawns in a larger game dictated by self-interested actors. The pervasive sense of betrayal and self-aggrandizement highlights the complexities of governance in a nation where the principles of unity and solidarity are regularly undermined by personal ambitions. Ultimately, Wike’s predicament serves as a poignant reminder of the dangers of turning against one’s own constituency for the transient allure of power, revealing that in the turbulent arena of Nigerian politics, one’s fate is often dictated not by merit but by shifting allegiances and hidden agendas. It underscores the necessity for integrity and genuine leadership, for without these, the cycle of betrayal and chaos is destined to repeat, leaving communities fragmented and their leaders adrift in the stormy seas of political opportunism.
Where is Nyesom Wike, Lere Olayinka?!
Hon. Prince Augustine Edumogiren writes from Ayakoromo Town, Delta State.
March 31, 2025.
I once believed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was a democrat—civilized, experienced, and truly the Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. But his recent nationwide address on the Rivers State crisis has proven otherwise.
In his speech, Tinubu failed to call his minister, Chief Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, to order. He did not even mention his name. Instead, all the blame was placed on His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, GSSRS, the duly elected Governor of Rivers State. This selective approach makes it clear that Wike is the real Commander-in-Chief, controlling the judiciary, the federal executive, the National Assembly, and all security agencies in Nigeria, while Tinubu merely follows his script.
Is this the democracy Nigerians voted for?
Bola Ahmed Tinubu must remember that just as he was elected, so was His Excellency Governor Siminalayi Fubara, GSSRS. The people of Rivers State spoke through the ballot, and their choice must be respected. Declaring a state of emergency in Rivers State, despite the absence of a crisis, will only confirm that Tinubu is acting on the orders of his true Commander-in-Chief—Chief Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, GSSRS.
If Nigeria is truly a democracy, then why is Governor Fubara being denied the right to present his budget? Why is he being undermined by so-called lawmakers acting on Wike’s directives? And why is the presidency silent on the role of federal institutions in enabling this injustice?
A true leader governs with fairness, neutrality, and respect for the rule of law. But Tinubu has shown that he is more interested in protecting certain individuals than in upholding justice. Democracy must not be sacrificed for personal interests or political vendettas.
Rivers State deserves justice. The people deserve peace. And history will not forget those who stood against the will of the people.
I stand with Sir Siminalayi Fubara, GSSRS, Executive Governor of Rivers State.
Sir Henry Tobin, JP. is the former Coordinator, 5th Mobile Parliament, Central Zone, Ijaw Youth Council Worldwide
Concerned Citizen of the Ijaw Nation