Tuesday, January 3, 2012
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Tuesday, January 03, 2012
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I couldn’t join tuesday's anti-subsidy removal protest in Lagos, now I hope I can make up with this. By the time the dailies hit newsstands in the morning, my article should be on social network sites and my blog. First, let me sympathize with the family of the protester identified as Muyideen Mustafa, who was allegedly killed by members of the Nigerian Police in Ilorin, Kwara state.
A quick recap
It was the first day of the year; the venue was a friend's place, the celebratory atmosphere - even without GEJ’s New Year gift - had been accompanied with plans, calculations and targets. There were enough to eat and so much to talk about but little did we know Mr President through the (not so popular until now) Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency had greater plans that changed a whole lot already.
The BREAKING NEWS: “PPPRA officially announces the removal of fuel subsidy on Petroleum Motor Spirit a.k.a Petro…” was an expected attack that still had the same effect as if it was unexpected. My friends and I ran hysterically from one local station to the other, to God be the glory, we were not disappointed, Nollywood, Church programmes, Reality shows and other interesting programmes took precedence while the breaking news maintained its spot on the scroll bar for hours. Bills must be paid, right?!
$8billion subsidy payout is expected to be spent on critical infrastructure, one of the many reasons the federal government gave for removing the subsidy on fuel, like we haven’t heard similar stories from regimes to administrations. OK! I’m sorry, that was a loud thought.
While we await updates, we started dissecting the issue. The summary: Nigerians would adjust their lifestyles and laugh about it. We are good at relying on comic relief – the funny viral pictures; the cartoons, the dame ‘gbagaun’ jokes etc would come in handy on social network sites and smart phones, and it will only take days or weeks, max! till all is buried and cemented. That doesn't mean there wont be complains and arguments in danfos- where usually I find award-winning analysts, offices and schools - where people can tell the story of the shoeless GEJ better than his TV ad.
One other thing that sells more like bread in this part of the world is hope and optimism. One good reason why religion is…hmm…not today’s topic. So let’s look at hope as a government tool; some 20 years ago, a government assured my parents that certain policies were for the future generations...and that should be me and many of my friends who took to the streets yesterday. But no they would not stop there, they'd want me to entrust the future of my yet-to-be-born children on the same shaky pedestal.
One other thing that sells more like bread in this part of the world is hope and optimism. One good reason why religion is…hmm…not today’s topic. So let’s look at hope as a government tool; some 20 years ago, a government assured my parents that certain policies were for the future generations...and that should be me and many of my friends who took to the streets yesterday. But no they would not stop there, they'd want me to entrust the future of my yet-to-be-born children on the same shaky pedestal.
Back in the room with my friends, usually human related stories such as the one that concerns the standard of living of the people would develop and generate swift reactions, we couldn’t hide our thirst for more, ‘let’s check twitter’ someone suggested...and that’s how and where a phase began.
WARNING: The tweets you are about to read are excerpts of stance and opinions of a small percentage of thousands of young and old Nigerians who started the virtual protest that transits to the streets. Meanwhile, I chose these tweets based on information available to me as at when i was writing, don’t take offense if your handle or tweets are not mentioned. My tweets are not even there.lol
The news
@toluogunlesi See how the ‘Happy New Years’ just vanished from lips and TLs. Thank you Goodluck #Nigeria #fuelsubsidyremoval
@seunokin GEJ has 1 unique trait amongst all Nigerian leaders& that is cluelessness! The man knows how best to annoy Nigerians #fuelsubsidy 1 Jan 5:08pm
Developing…
@idlove48 @desyst: Fuel is now being sold at a pump price of N138 1 Jan 6:04pm
@GbengaGOLD No leader has ever disrespected Nigerians on this scale in a singular move. He didn’t even have the courtesy to announce it himself.WTF Jan 2 8:48am
@toluOgunlesi “Remove Boko Haram, not fuel subsidy” -- @sansa2324 Jan 1 10:03pm
As an aside…
@hanneymusawa As a muslim Northerner, the forces calling themselves Boko Haram DO NOT speak for me. Blumming annoying Bozo’s 2 Jan 4:17pm
The mobilization
@Ogundamisi BREAKING NEWS! LAGOS PROTEST! Begins Wed 3RD JAN 8.am at NLC Secretariat 29, Olujuwon Street opposite Tejuosho market yaba Lagos. 2 Jan 7:22pm
No going back!
@Omojuwa I will protest! Not for anyone but because a people have been wronged and I will fight injustice all my life!
@ged I know many of us maybe arrested before we get to our meeting points…but we’ve to be ready for the task ahead. #subsidyremoval #Nigeria 2 Jan 2:36pm
@elrufai just leaving the police SARS office & seen Dino Melaye + a dozen youth leaders being detained for ‘attempting to overthrow GEJ’S govt.! 2 Jan 9:23pm
E-coordinating
@ransanwo If you are protesting in #kaduna pls be on the watch out for thugs who may hijack the protest #occupyNigeria 3 Jan 9am
Stereotype?
@akinduro We should stop calling this #OccupyNigeria, pls. this is #SubsidyProtests ‘occupy’ is all about encampment. We all home now. 3 Jan 6pm
Still on the matter
@xeenarh official #OccupyNigeria contacts still needed in ABIA, AKWA-IBOM, ANAMBRA, BAUCH, BAYEL, BENUE,C-RIV, EBON, EKITI, JIG, KEB, NIG, SOK, ZAMF 4 Jan 3am
@yetmohO UK protest at Nigeria House London, Friday 6th jan, 1pm. 3 jan 5pm
As at the time I posted this on my blog, here are major stories on Nigerian national dailies...
http://www.punchng.com/news/reps-make-u-turn-on-subsidy-removal/ -
http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/jonathan-summons-emergency-fec-meeting-as-protests-spread/106424/
watch this space
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