As much as one would have loved to remain silent in the face of hardship that Nigerians have been passing through in the last one year of this current administration, those in the corridor of power would not allow one to be, with their insulting comments on Nigerians.

One of such insulting comments is the one that went viral recently, credited to the National Publicity Secretary of All Progressive Congress (APC), Felix Morka saying that what President Tinubu did was to implement what the law stipulated by removing subsidy on petroleum products.

Felix Morka was reported to have made the comment while speaking with Arise TV on Wednesday 11th September 2024. The APC Publicity Secretary argued that Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) passed into law by the National Assembly canceled payment of subsidy and that since Nigerians failed to speak to their representatives in the National Assembly against passing the PIA, Nigerians should blame themselves for the fuel subsidy removed by President Bola Tinubu.

“What has happened is not a function of politics or a proclamation by the president. It is a function of law the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) eliminated the system of subsidy as we knew it under the former administration of President Muhammadu Buhari. So, what President Bola Tinubu did on the day of his inauguration was simply to communicate what the law had declared.”

He further supported his argument by saying that the subsidy was unsustainable and that since there were public hearings on the matter, Nigerians should have told their representatives in the National Assembly to object the removal of subsidy when the discussion was taking place. “However, now that it’s become obvious that we cannot sustain that system, that system had to go and it was removed by law. There were public hearings done,” Morka explained further.

To be sincere, if Morka had truly said those things, then, he must have insulted the integrity of the citizens of this country by such comments.

Who does not know that the representatives he was referring to are only representatives on paper but in the real sense, they are representing their personal interest? The so-called representatives that are far from their constituencies and cannot fight for their interest once their personal welfare packages have been granted. 

Even at that, are the representatives not an arm of the ruling government? If the citizens have no sense to call them to order, why has the executive and the judiciary not called their attention to the fact that the laws they are making are anti-people of Nigerian?

If the President has actually pronounced what the law says, Is Mr. President the law pronouncement officer? And if he is, did he know the details of those laws as well as their pros and cons before pronouncing even while yet to step into the office?

Why was it that his predecessors have not pronounced such laws before “Emi Lokan’s” pronouncement?

And after pronouncing and his administration’s “renewed hope” turned “renewed hardship” from day one in office, why has it taken the administration this long to make a U-Turn?

The administration could afford new set of presidential fleets, bullet proof cars of multi-million naira for the so-called law makers, renovation of Vice president’s residence etc. but basic things that the common man needs could not be provided, instead, it has been pains upon pains, sourcing for everything on individual basis.

Even International Monetary Fund (IMF) could read between the lines; hence, its advice to the government as contained in the Vanguard Newspaper of 12th September 2024 with a caption: “Protect the poor from impact of petrol price hike.”

The subsidy that the APC Chieftain claimed its Mr Know-it-all has removed as stipulated by the law over a year ago, but which subsidy are the Marketers and refiners are demanding its total removal as contained on page 23 of Punch Newspaper of 12th September 2024? That means something is fishy here. Someone must be telling lies and the government knows that quite well.

When I started using car in almost two decades ago, to fill my car’s tank, which is about 40litres used to cost me N2,500 but just last week, I bought 11litres for N10,000 from major marketer for that matter; meaning it would cost more in some other filling stations. (N62.50 to N900).

Are we not the same Nigerians like we were then? It means the blame should go to the government and the selfish leaders that are on seat at various levels of our government.

Some leaders in the past had provided free education but what “Emi Lokan” could offer is loan to indigene students in public tertiary institutions, what a shame?

Even when the APC Publicity Secretary is blaming Nigerians for not advising their representatives in the National Assembly to vote against subsidy removal, are we to remind him that the country only practices democracy on paper but what is actually obtainable in the real sense of it is oligarchy.

More so, it was change of government from same APC to APC, otherwise, the likes of APC Publicity Secretary would have blamed the previous government of another party for their failure.

It is understandable that those benefiting from the government cannot say the actual fact in order not to lose the free things they are enjoying at the expense of the poor tax payers. They should however, keep quiet and refrain from insulting the poor citizens of this country.

Thanks be to God that some of the APC members still know the truth. Hence, in another trending news dated 5th September, APC’s Ibrahim Modibbo has confirmed that Nigerians are not finding it funny with the current economic hardships citizens are experiencing.

Legit.ng reported that Modibbo explained that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was wrongly advised on some policies and the masses are bearing the brunt. He therefore asked the Nigerian leader to rejig his cabinet to ease out “virtually all the ministers”. “People around the President are giving him wrong advice. If I were the President today, I would have sacked almost virtually all the ministers and what have you. The President needs to get new people and new advisers”.

The government should note that laws are made for man and not man for the laws. If any law is inflicting unnecessary hardship, it should be reviewed rather than making provocative comments at the expense of people’s lives.

The government is quick to make use of laws that are anti-people, while those that are pro-people; ensuring basic things are provided, corruption is nipped in the bud etc are not noticed and implemented.

Nigerians have had enough of this administration’s unconcerned attitude. There must be a change before it will be too late. Nigerians should continue in their prayers to God to fight this battle for all, for without God we will not be able to do it on our own.

God bless Nigeria.