If the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members had known that they may not make it in the 2015 presidential elections, I am dead sure they would not have looted our treasury with reckless abandon. If they had known that the bubble would burst in the March 28, 2015 presidential elections, I bet they would have been a bit cautious and prudent in dealing with the nation’s finances. I am sure they would have been sensible enough not to deploy the quantum of money in both local and foreign currencies we saw few days to the elections and even after the elections had been won and lost.
In a special farewell service for the president in Abuja last week by the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, President Goodluck Jonathan lamented that he fears persecution targeted at him and his ministers from the All Progressives Congress (APC)-controlled federal government after May 29, 2015. President Jonathan had to swallow the bitter pill of letting the world know what has been troubling his innermost chambers since it became obvious that the game has been won and lost in Nigeria. The reports of the devastating state of Nigeria’s economy have not helped matters. The figures refused to add up. Nigeria cannot pay salaries, petrol cannot flow. Electricity is not available. The system is almost at standstill, hopelessly grounded and mercilessly plundered.
But what worries me most is why the president is crying out loud about possible persecution, if there is nothing to worry about. If there is no skeleton in the cupboard, the president needs not bother about anything except to prepare for a decent hand-over ceremony on May 29. If Mr. President had done his duty to fatherland in the way it should be done, I do not see the reason for this panic statement. But like I said earlier, the figures refuse to add up and these are no bed time stories. Before 2011 when we sold crude oil at $38 per barrel, we had $62 billion in the external reserve. From 2011 when crude oil was sold at $110 per barrel, our external reserves dropped to $32 billion. Now, where did all the money go?
In 1999, Nigeria had more than 3,000 megawatts of electricity, and 16 years, after spending billions of dollars, we are at less than 3,000mw. Again, where did all the money go to? For over 16 years, Nigerians do not know what is going on at Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). How much crude oil do we pump in a day? How much of it is sold outside and what quantity is reserved for local consumption? Why are our four refineries not working? Has NNPC been accountable to anybody? Who are those behind the oil subsidy scam? Have they been brought to book? Are we not living witnesses of how those accused of oil subsidy scam found themselves back in government? How come all the terrible characters and bad boys in Nigeria found themselves in PDP for 16 years? Where did all the dollars and pounds sterling we saw in Lagos during the presidential and the governorship election come from? There are so many questions that demand urgent answers, and whipping up sentiments to attract public sympathy will not help President Jonathan to get a soft landing on May 29. Those who aspire to hold public office must be man enough to admit failures and take responsibility.
The self-evident truths here is that Jonathan and his fraudulent PDP never believed that an incumbent can lose power in Nigeria. They were never prepared for it. They did not look at the figures. They did not believe that they cannot buy or steal the presidency again. In their foolishness, PDP and the presidency did not realise that the North is aggrieved because Jonathan’s ambition to rule Nigeria till 2019 has devastated the Southern and Northern political equilibrium and understanding. They did not realise that it is impossible for 11 states in South East and South South to defeat 25 states from North East, North West, North Central and South West. They were not smart enough to reason that immediately the whole North and the Yoruba nation came together, the business has been concluded. They did not see that Buhari of 2003, 2007 and 2011 is not the same Buhari in 2015.
Impunity and power of arrogance did not let them know that losing General Olusegun Obasanjo will break the back of PDP. They did not realise that engaging characters like Buruji Kashamu, Bode George, Musiliu Obanikoro, Femi Fani-Kayode, Chris Ubah, Ifeanyi Ubah, Iyiola Omisore, Ayodele Fayose, Emeka Offor, Arthur Eze, Mujaheed Asari-Dokubo, Tompolo, Boyloaf and Edwin Clark, as well as organisations like Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), Movement for the Actualisation for the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) etc may backfire. The truth is that Jonathan and his handlers took a lot of things for granted and the bubbles burst.
Empty treasury awaits General Buhari on May 29, 2015 and this is the hardest truth he has to face. But I know APC will overcome the coming challenges with the power of ideas and brutal efficiency. With a disciplined and transparent leadership, the real money that will drive progress will come. At high levels of office, ideas are far better than dollars.
• Joe Igbokwe is Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos
