My Take on Subsidy Removal

Change is the constant thing. But it is another ball game when it comes to accepting it and living it. On the 1st day of what promises to be a “happy new year”, the atmosphere all of a sudden became a calm and that of surprise no thanks to the new year gift announced by the number one citizen of our beloved country and giant of Africa, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.
What was supposed to be a happy new beginning became the opposite. All those who went to their various places of worship and had returned with great expectations of what the year has to offer began to doubt their men of God, no thanks to the ”unexpected” new year gift by the president. What we were all expecting to take effect in April, suddenly decided to use January as its arrival date precisely the first day. What a way to begin a new year.
The price of petrol is now 141N I couldn’t believe what my ears heard so, I quickly picked my phone and called my Dad whom I believe was in a better position to give me the most reliable information. From the first statement he made, I already knew he knew what I was calling him for and of course, his guess was right. After picking his call the first statement that proceeded out of my helpless lips was ”is it through dad” and he replied “yes my son” immediately I dropped the call and my heart melted.
I started pondering, is this the solution to our problem, is this the first step that should be taken, have I not wasted my vote? Different thought started passing through my thinking faculty.
If at all there is the need to remove subsidy from petrol is this the way to go about it. It this government not sensitive to the effect it would have on the masses even if they have what it takes to cope with any price at all. I am not against the removal of subsidy but what borders me is the effect it would have on the cost of living which definitely will be felt mostly by the masses. The implication of this is that everything, without will become more expensive while salaries remain at the same level.
Instead of increasing the price of petrol or removing the subsidy, why not reduce the cost of governing first. How can only one person be collecting 600N million because he is a political office holder? I thought he is there to serve? Such a person would not feel the effect as the common man whose annual take home pay is not even up to 1M? Indeed this government is not sensitive to the suffering of the masses at all.
In the process of expressing their anger, some innocent citizens have lost their lives. Only God knows what the future holds for them. If the right step had been taken there wouldn’t have been the need for people losing their loved ones.
I am of the opinion that instead of removing subsidy first, the effect of the removal on the masses should have been the first thing so that the direct effect will not be shouldered by the common man who hardly feeds his family twice a day.
Besides that, students have been at home for months because ASSU has been on strike, which should have been resolved before creating another unfriendly atmosphere for the citizens. It goes a long way to show that the gov3ernment is not concerned about the future of the country.
In conclusion, until the Federal Government give we Nigerians a convincing explanation and audit on how the fund of this country have been handled for the last 15years, they have no right to remove the subsidy from petrol because they have not been accountable to us.