NIGERIA ,  AN EXPIRED BRITISH PRODUCT –  ONYEUKWU

INTERVIEW GRANTED BY SIR TEMPLE OGUERI ONYEUKWU FCA TO OUR CORRESPONDENT IN HIS OFFICE IN LAGOS ON FRIDAY 20TH, DECEMBER 2024.

2024 IS COMING TO AN END.

THE PRESIDENT HAS PRESENTED A BUDGET OF N49.7 TRILLION NAIRA FOR 2025. HOW DO YOU SEE THE COMING YEAR 2025?

Wednesday, December 18, 2024 President Bola Ahmed Tinubu presented the 2025 appropriation bill of N49.7 Trillion to the joint session of the National Assembly. Some fundamental assumptions upon which the budget proposal is premised include an oil production target of 2.06 million Barrels per day at a prize of $75 dollars per barrel. Essentially, Nigeria can produce more than 2.06MS Per day if we fully explore our potentials in the oil industry. We cannot explore our potentials fully unless there is a total clean up and overhaul of the management of NNPCL. As at now, it appears that those running the company on behalf of all of us are more powerful than the president. They have become untouchables unless and until there are consequences for corruption, profligacy, lack of accountability and transparency in the management of national resources, it will be difficult to make real economic progress. Another implication of the budget speech by Mr. President is that the Naira has officially been devalued to N1,500.00 to one US dollar. This has serious economic implications. This means the Naira can not appreciate more than 1,500 to the dollar through out next year. Though this administration has always touted that it has merged the paralleled market rate and the official rate, the truth is that the two still exist. Consequently if the official benchmark exchange rate is N1,500 to one US dollar, we will expect the free market rate for 2025 to be higher than N1,900.00 on the average. Imported products will continue to be less expensive than locally produced goods. With the current electricity tariff and the cost of PMS and Diesel, the erosion of the purchasing power of middle class parents, it is expected that more small and medium enterprises will shut down. Unemployment will spiral. However if the insecurity in the Northern part of the country can be brought under control, farmers are able to go back to farm with support from the various state governments,  food inflation may reduce. Otherwise it will still spiral. We must approach 2025 with extreme caution.The proposal projects to bring inflation down to 15% from the present over 34%. This appears a tall order. The drivers of inflation are mostly fiscal policies. The nation must be able to contain the insecurity in the food basket of the nation, the policy of the federal government encouraging agricultural production must be sustained instead of embarking on  haphazard measures of the government giving waivers of import duty to import food items, the power sector must be overhauled to enable manufacturers have power for productive activities, government must patronize goods produced or assembled in Nigeria. These suggestions have medium and long term gestation periods but the government must be consistent in driving these policies. Taming inflation is a measure of the productivity of the economy which ours lack. Conscious and intentional efforts must be made to ensure resources are consistently allocated to the activities that enhance productivity and add value to the economy.

CAN YOU ASSESS THE STATE OF THE NIGERIAN ECONOMY.

The Nigerian economy has been subjected to sustained looting, manipulation, transfer prizing fraud, over invoicing and inflation of cost of production by most of the multinationals that have operated here over the years, while the cost of production of one barrel  of crude in other oil producing countries range between 12 dollars to 20 dollars, the cost of producing the same one barrel of crude in Nigeria is over 35 dollars. EFCC has never shown any interest in this monumental fraud. The multinational oil companies have contributed in no small measure in under-developing Nigeria. This is a result of the centralization of control of resources at Abuja. In the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s, Nigeria produced most of what it required. Bournvita, Millo, Rice, Beans, Milk, Sugar, Tomatoes and many other products had very dignifying packaging. You hardly  see products packaged in sachets. That was a measure of the strength of the purchasing power of the citizens and the value of the currency. Contrast this with what we have today, every conceivable product is now in sachets. “Sachetrisation” of the economy is directly proportional to the level of poverty pervading the nation. It is also positively correlated to the value of the currency and its purchasing power. Nigeria has become a sachets economy. Infact producers have devised ingenuous means to survive. I bought a particular brand of biscuit for my baby to take to school, he came back complaining that the pack that used to contain four now contains two. I went to buy same biscuit to confirm, low, my son was correct. That is how far the economy has deteriorated.

WHY DO YOU THINK FEDERAL GOVERNMENT EFFORTS ARE NOT FELT AT THE SUBNATIONAL LEVELS?

Nigeria as it is presently constituted is not working, can not work and will not work unless the Federal; Government sheds off a lot of the unnecessary baggage imposed on it by the constitution. The state governors appear to be the major clog in the wheel  of economic  growth, development and  transformation of Nigeria. Many state governors lack basic ideas of governance. The only license  to be a state governor is how deep your pockets are.Allegedly how much you can pay to Police, INEC, your party and the courts. Nothing else matters. Many of the governors lack creative ideas. Many do not know what is forward or backward integration. Many live in Abuja, collect the allocations due to their states monthly and change them into US dollars, or British pounds or Euro and live large. Some visit their states only for ceremonies. Many of the states are disaster zones without the basics necessities that can propel economic development. The federal government must shed many of the responsibilities imposed on it by the flawed constitution and transform Nigeria into a truly Federal system. That will mark the beginning of true transformation of this nation. Presently this country has been configured not to work. It is still a joint venture between the British and the kleptomaniac kakistocrats.They have continued to share the blood money of innocent Nigerians. How long will this continue?.

THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY HAS PASSED  AND THE PRESIDENT HAS ASSENTED TO THE BILLS ESTABLISHING VARIOUS DEVELOPMENT COMMISSIONS IN THE VARIOUS ZONES. WHAT IMPACT DO YOU THINK THE COMMISSIONS WILL HAVE?

The establishment of development commissions in the various zones is an indictment on the governors of the various states and an eloquent admission that the states and local governments are not developing. The governors over the years constituted themselves into emperors. The governors without exception feasted on the allocations of the Local Government Areas and left the local governments comatose. The case of Mbatoili in Imo State is very unfortunate. The Federal Allocation to Mbatoli LGA on a monthly basis is one of the highest in the Federation. Yet the road leading to the Umuonyeali industrial  market where more than (5000) five thousand traders do their business has been impassable since four years. If the road to an industrial market where the state generates huge internal revenue can be left to deteriorate what happens to other rural roads?.The rural roads in Mbatoli are one of the worst in the country. You can hardly see any of them where a vehicle can drive. The only means of transport is now Okada which can meander the bad gullies occasionally throwing their passengers down. Ironically on a daily basis we read on the social media, the wonderful infrastructural renewal of Imo State. One is tempted to ask where these Otimkpus go to get the pictures of the infrastructure they attribute to Imo State.The development commissions will tend to continue to concentrate power at the centre. Essentially, this is the time to start decentralizing and removing some of the responsibilities attributed to the Federal by the constitution and handing them over to the  states including resource control. The development commissions are unnecessary encroachments on the responsibilities of the state governors. The verdict, is the governance at the state level is a total failure in the entire 6 geopolitical zones.

NIGERIANS ESPECIALLY THE YOUTHS CONTINUE TO JAPA. HOW DO WE STEM THIS TIDE?

The Japa syndrome is not a status symbol. It is a manifestation of the frustration citizens are facing in their country where nothing works. Youth unemployment standing at about 43%, companies closing, locally produced goods more expensive than imported counterparts. Young families selling their properties to relocate to other climes to enable them eke out a living. The debilitating economic situation, where graduates after their youth service are unable to secure any employment over the years. they continue to depend on their parents for  sustenance. the ‘Japa’ syndrome shows the hopelessness in the society. Can kakistocrats and kleptomaniacs at the helm of affairs in this country who have been looting this economy with reckless abandon bring back part of their  loot and invest in this country? This will go a long way stemming the tide of Japa.

THE CRISIS IN RIVERS STATE STILL FESTERS. WHERE DOES RIVERS STATE GO FROM HERE?

The Political crisis in Rivers state festered and culminated in the purported agreement at Aso Rock midwifed and propelled by the president, C in C of the federal republic of Nigeria. Senator Ahmed Bola Tinubu. The so called agreement signed by all parties to the dispute purportedly without duress cannot be described as an agreement. An agreement must be fair, just, equitable to all parties in a dispute.However the nation has not adverted to the following questions viz.Who drafted the terms of the agreement?When the president invited the governor and some key staff of the president allegedly briefed the governor on the implications of insisting on the right things to be done for instance – If you disagree, a state of emergency may be declared in your state. If you disagree the IGP will be instructed to withdraw all security attached to you and your office. If you disagree, those members of the house of Assembly that already defected will be provided security cover to impeach you and nothing will happen. If you disagree, your naked photos which was taken at the shrine will be made public and on the social media.Have we sat down to analyze the modus operandi of mafias? Drug mafias? political mafias? crude oil petroleum mafias? and what have you. Once you are initiated you either comply or you are eliminated. Where does Fubara go from here?APC and the presidency are bent on capturing not winning in Rivers state in 2027. Wike for now appears  the best bet to use for the job. Wike wants to remain politically relevant after 2027 allegedly to enable him contest for the vice presidency in 2031, all things being equal.The governor of Rivers State Fubara signed the agreement because the implications of the presidency descending on him and his office cannot be imagined. The agreement does not contain or mention the rumored monthly financial payment the governor is alledged to have agreed with his estranged political godfather to be making to him.A probable measure of the grip Wike and the presidency has on Rivers State is indicated by the speed the defected members of the house of assembly passed the local government autonomy bill and the financial autonomy  bill for the house of assembly. These are constitutional. The bills were both rejected during Wike 8 years vice drip on Rivers state. How come all of a sudden they were passed within days of reintroduction.Had the governor not diplomatically consented to the agreement, while his matter was still at the supreme court, your guess is as good as mine. As it stands now, the Federal High Court in its latest judgment directed the CBN to withhold the Federal allocations of Rivers State till the governor represents the 2024 appropriation bill to the Amaehule led State Assembly comprising the members that defected to APC in the full glare of the public. The Rivers case is a demonstration of Arrogance, greed, intimidation, high level conspiracy, impunity, alleged judicial rascality and manipulation, and confusion. Rivers State must be allowed to be. The governor must be allowed to govern. The members who defected must be honourable enough to relinquish their seats. INEC must without delay conduct elections in accordance with the law to fill the vacancies created by their defection. If Aso Rock is not partisan in this dispute in Rivers State, it would have been history by now. However when the president rhetorically asks, if new babies are born to you, will you throw them away?  Referring to the members who defected from the PDP to the APC. This shows that he is the ultimate beneficiary of the dispute in Rivers State. This is regrettably unpatriotic, the president has allegedly strengthened his grips in the judiciary since 2003 when he as the last man standing in AD, supported other South West States and the judiciary reversed the victory of the PDP in the governorship elections. In Nigeria wise man do not go to court against Tinubu, Wike Uzodinma, Akpabio and Ahmed Lawan. If they take you to court, you will loose, If you take them to court you will loose. A word is enough for the wise.

MAZI NNAMDI KANU REMAINS IN DETENTION TILL DATE. WHAT IS YOUR TAKE?

Mazi Nnamdi Kanu was forcefully and illegally abducted from Kenya and deported to Nigeria by the Buhari administration. That abduction can be said to be international terrorism. It is on record that former president Buhari while he was military Head of State also sent to abduct Umaru Dikko from UK to bring him back to Nigeria to face corruption charges. Nnamdi Kanu is a British Citizen. But Britain has remained mute since the man who travelled with British passport was abducted. The courts up to the supreme court have ruled for his release. The government which has control of the institutions of violence keeps choosing and picking which court judgement to obey while ignoring others. His incarceration has  impacted the Ibo Nation so adversely. Miscreants are capitalizing on his incarceration to simulate insecurity in the south east. The South East governors appear complicit in his prolonged detention.The detention of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is a demonstration of how the Igbo are treated in a country that has virtually suffocated them since 1966. I am sure if Mazi Nnamdi Kanu were to be an American citizens, the Nigerian government would never try to abduct him illegally. The Igbo nation must start thinking out of the box. Can we for once, stop demonstrating our belief in the Unity of Nigeria and thinking of how to develop the South East like our counterparts from the North and the West? Mazi Nnamdi Kanu adopted country has abandoned him, the governors of the South East are not helping issues. One thing is certain, his incarceration will end  in praise. Those who are simulating and benefiting from the insecurity in the South East engendered by MNK prolonged detention are said to be entrenched in the various levels of government in Nigeria. Right from time, the British has shown repulsion, rejection and hatred to the Ibo. Even when Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe made all the necessary compromises for Nigeria Independence, the British preferred the North producing the prime minister while decorating Dr. Azikiwe with a worthless  toothless ceremonial president.

OFTEN WE HEAR THAT THE UNITY OF NIGERIA IS NOT NEGOTIABLE. HOW DO YOU ASSESS ABOVE STATEMENT?

Nigeria is a product. The manufacturer is British. After manufacturing Nigeria sometime in 1914, it was bestowed with the longest life span any product ever had. A life span of one hundred years. The product was designed to benefit both the manufacturers and some other interested parties who were to ensure that the shelf life of the product was sustained employing the weapons of intimidation, violence, military dictatorship and surreptitious  British support. In the manufacture of the product; Nigeria these interested parties were allocated majority share holding next to the British. The British even holds part of the shares on trust for these other beneficiary shareholders. It seemed that one hundred years will never come to pass. However when eventually the product expired in 2014, the manufacturers and the other beneficiaries decided to extend the life span. They erased the original expiry date and up till now have refused to put another expiring date on the product. Nigeria as a product has expired. Expectedly until another product with a new expiring date or products are extracted from the remains of the expired product Nigeria, it will continue to manifest the characteristic of an expired product. Why do we blame traders in Aba, Alaba and even some pharmaceutical companies who indulge in altering the expiry date of products when Britain and some parts of Nigeria can conspire and illegally extinguish the expiry date of a whole nation to sustain the economic exploitation and brigandage  that has been the hallmark of Britain since the amalgamation of unwilling Northern and Southern protectorates of Nigeria 1914.The unity of Nigeria based on the 1914 amalgamation documents has expired. Nigeria is an expired British product and its unity is negotiable.