NIGERIANS TOOK TO THE STREET; REMOVE CORRUPTION NOT SUBSIDY

[Babafemi Oyediran]

Catching my breath after the long break here and in Nigeria. Officially, the New Year just started in Nigeria after the long strike. With a country shut down between the 9th and 16th of January, 2012, it became apparent to me for the first time in my adult years that Nigerians may just have had enough and the time for that change is now. Government claims it spends heavily to ensure that our main product - oil is subsidized but against corruption tells us otherwise. The subsidised funds end up in the deep pocket of some few individuals.

The price of premium motor spirit, PMS may have changed from N65 to N97 but what has not changed completely is the attitude of people to corruption. I only hope that the government would get serious by first finding out exactly how the subsidy funds were embezzled and by who and get judgement right in that other. Else nothing may just have changed even if the entire subsidy on fuel or even life is removed!

It was indeed the mother of all protest in the history of Nigeria which took place simultaneously in several cities of Nigeria. The removal of subsidy on fuel awoke Nigerians from their long slumber. While the protest went beyond restoring subsidy, it was rather dominated with agitation against corruption as I led my INTERSYNERGY team to join the protest.

It was evident that the government took note. The remove corruption and not subsidy was perhaps the most mouthed expression during the protest. Placards, banners and posters were all over the place bearing the expression.

This landmark protest has since put the government of Nigeria on her toes to pay more attention to fighting, condemning and investigating corruption in all sectors of governance in Nigeria. This was indeed a remarkable success that has gone down the history of Nigeria with a change story available to be told to my children yet unborn.

You can catch up with our campaign and activities in the continuous fight against corruption on our page at www.nigerianvoicesagainstcorruption.com. Together against corruption!

[GABI WAMBO LAURENT]

Good my dear Femi;

I'm really impress by the level of activism and mobilisation of the youths on this occasion. If only this could send a signal to our authorities to let the understand that are nomore the dump they used to think about, that we are ready to follow the country management process and to clear out any corrupt person or attitude attempting to jeopardise our future.

Cheers and do keep working hard.