As Politicians In Power Lie And Cheat

 By Adekunle Adekoya

“Politics is the only profession where you can lie, cheat, and steal, and still be respected.” — Mark Twain (1835-1910)

Today, I am helplessly wallowing in self-pity and pity for my fellow compatriots as I ponder the state of affairs in our dear country. We don’t have another country, do we? Why are our politicians hell-bent on destroying this country as they pursue self-interest instead of the common good? 

Why do they lie shamelessly, deceive us remorselessly, and spend our money with so much rapacity? On the global stage, I am a Nigerian, an unrepentant one, despite the relentless, mindless mismanagement by succeeding generations of politicians, particularly since return to democratic civil rule in 1999. 

Talking of lies, I recall that in 2015, when the All Progressives Congress, APC, rallied the electorate to sack the PDP administration, the party came with all sorts of promises about how Nigeria will be transformed to an El Dorado if they are voted into office. A few of the promises include free education at primary, secondary and tertiary institutions for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, STEM, and Education; ban on all government officials from seeking medical care abroad, and revival of Ajaokuta Steel Company.

In addtion, the APC promised generation, transmission and distribution of at least 20,000 MW of electricity within four years and increasing to 50,000 MW with a view to achieving 24/7 uninterrupted power supply within 10 years. Which of these has been achieved? In fact, what evidence exists that any work is being done towards achievement of these stated objectives? 

By the time Buhari finished his eight-year tenure, he had spent more than 200 days outside the country for medical reasons, the most scandalous of which was his 117-day stay in London for medical reasons. Of course, we are still where we were with electricity, more than 200 million of us “managing” 4,000 MegaWatts or thereabouts. Lying to the people is now the highest point of statecraft in Nigeria. Shame!

Then came the 2022-23 election campaign season and we all got assailed with the “Renewed Hope Agenda”. Like little children, we believed them, but almost before their spittle had dried on the ground, we all got the shock of our lives with the peremptory removal of subsidy on petrol. As Pentecostal pastors say, our lives have never been the same again. 

The President who promised us goodies with his campaign slogan repaid us with the horror of economic deprivation, hunger and hopelessness as we all struggle and toil daily to make ends meet; and it’s still getting harder. The latest round of petrol scarcity, which has lasted for about six weeks now, has made prices of commodities that are already sky-high to go even higher. Prices are shooting beyond the sky into outer space; we are heading for hyper-inflation, all because subsidy of petrol was removed.

Following the removal, government, through its many spokesmen, insisted that subsidy was no longer being paid, despite existence of facts to the contrary. The exchange rate of the Naira is all one needs to know and establish that the landing cost of petrol in naira terms will dictate a pump price that will simply ignite an inferno. But our people in government continued to tell us they were not paying subsidy. Earlier in the week, the NNPCL declared its operating results. President Bola Tinubu approved a request by NNPC to utilise the 2023 final dividends due to the federation to pay for petrol subsidy. In so doing, the president inadvertently admitted a return to the subsidy regime. Why deny it all along?

As we all struggled for the next spoonful of garri for our flattened stomachs, the Presidency allegedly procured a new presidential jet at the alleged cost of N150 billion. Well, it’s no longer an allegation, as Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, released pictures of the new jet, an  Airbus A330. Although he did not disclose the amount it was purchased, Onanuga said the new plane was bought far below the market price.

Whatever the price, it is known that the National Assembly did not appropriate money for purchase of the jet. Senate President Godswill Akpabio said the request for purchase of the aircraft had not been tabled before the parliament, but that once done, members would consider and approve it. That was the closest NASS got to about the new jet. What do you call spending money from our exchequer without due approval by parliament? Misappropriation? Embezzlement? I call it an act of grand larceny perpetrated against the people’s commonwealth at the highest levels of power.

In addition, an expenditure on that scale, at this time, is a display of gross insensitivity to the plight of the people that elected them into power. Well, the jet is here, not minding a legal hijack by a crooked Chinese firm trying to get back at politicians they dealt with. Let the President fly his new jet and enjoy it while it lasts. But since we’re back to subsidy, Mr. President should also backtrack on Naira flotation. An object will float on water after displacing the equivalent of its weight. We have now seen that the Naira has no weight. It must be supported, else we all sink with it. Back to fixed rate regime, with only one window, straight!

*Adekoya is a commentator for public issues