From David Onwuchekwa, Nnewi
As Nigerians fume over the rapid increase in petroleum pump price now moving towards N1,000 per litre with intensity, former Executive Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Dr Okay Chidolue has describes it as a steady movement to kakistocracy, governement by the worst of men.
Dr Chidolue said he bought N20,000 worth of fuel at an NNPC mega station in Abuja at N617 per litre last weekend and all he got was half a tank for a tiny four cylinder vehicle.
He wondered whether Nigeria is still running government of the people, by the people and for the people as democracy is popularly defined.
“If we are, where is the cushioning effect of the new privately owned Dangote refinery that the Federal Government invested so much in, an investment that would have built six modular refineries in six geopolitical zones? If we are, why are the four government refineries moribund? Actually, they died natural death long time ago but their staff are still on Federal budgeted payroll.
“If we are, where is the public mass transport system that should have been in place long before the fuel subsidy removal? If we are, why did the Federal Government anoint few ‘favoured’ companies to import fuel that will supposedly cushion the biting effects of fuel subsidy removal? How about the damnable Federal Poverty Register from which the Federal Government will ‘share’ $800 million to the needy Nigerians? What a shame!!! Who did this to us!!!
“For a country with countless professionals, including eminent economists, something is terribly wrong with us. Something is wrong with us because there is a basic and known economic doctrine that governs economic policies of serious countries of the world. This basic economic doctrine, found in most basic economics textbooks, stated categorically that the government is not an efficient market participant. In simple and unambiguous terms, it means that the government’s role in the management of economy must be minimal and best limited to creation of enabling environment where commerce will thrive, ” he said.
He noted that the realisation of this led to what he called a devilish Indiginization Policy of 1970.
According to him, it is an insidious and uncoordinated policy designed to marginalise a section of the country for challenging state sponsored brutality, adding that the realisation of this led to the creation of Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) in 1999 that, in his words, mindlessly squandered the nation’s commonwealth.
Dr Chidolue declared that profitable and social cushioning public enterprises were sold to government cronies for peanuts.
“Folks, our problem is man-made. We have all the laws and regulations that we need. But we have zero appetite to implement them. This zero appetite stem from corruption and our current system of government that we erroneously call democracy. But it is not. And, we knew or should have known that it is not. The conduct of credible election is the hallmark of a any democratic State. It is the only distinguishing characteristic of democracy from other forms of government. And, we have failed woefully in this regard.
“Our elections are not remotely credible. Therefore, they cannot give birth to democracy. It is not just possible!!!
“If the truth must be told, our system of government changed from military dictatorship to plutocracy in 1999. That was twenty four years ago. Plutocracy is a government by the rich and for the rich. Under this system, implementation of policies that will improve the welfare of the public are deliberately killed at Federal and State levels by the elites who control government apparatus and institutions.
“As if plutocracy is not bad enough for us, we jumped from frying-pan to fire by graduating to kakistocracy in 2016 under President Buhari’s APC. Please don’t take my definition as it is, google the definition of kakistocracy. It is a state or society governed by its least suitable or competent citizens.
“Under this system of government, policy implementation is unimportant because mediocrity is the norm. Technocrats are stifled by the ruling class. Economic statistics and indices meant nothing. Budgeting and accounting standards are openly swept aside. And, a fifteen million dollar purchase of gold-plated ladies bra by a public servant becomes a child’s play.
“First thing first!!!
Worry not about fuel subsidy and policy implementation. From military dictatorship to plutocracy and, to kakistocracy is a laughable adventure. We must get our system of government right. And, if we do, good things like sustained welfare of the people will naturally follow. But if we don’t, any dream of building a nation from this geographic contraption called Nigeria will remain a pipedream.
“Doing the same thing and expecting a different outcome is a flaming madness. Bad election begets bad government. But credible election, which need not be perfect, begets good government.
” Nigeria is adrift and only a credible democratic government from credible election will save the day. And, I wish the Presidential Election PetitionsTribunal (PEPT) wisdom and courage. They need both, ” Dr Chidolue, a Senior lawyer concluded.