Oil & Energy

Government Without Opposition (1)

Published

10 years ago

September 26, 2012

Good Governance and effective leadership thrives in the
midst of effective opposition. Without effective opposition, governance is
prone to dictatorship. Governance and leadership in such situation become
ineffective and would lose legitimacy or authority to function effectively.

The late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo in his books, “Voice of
Wisdom and Path to Nigerian Greatness,” noted that the evils of foreign rule
may be far less than the evils which may be perpetrated under self-governance
by the affluent natives or the local moguls who, if left to their own devices,
may constitute themselves into class oligarchy and secure the supreme power for
themselves in the form of tyranny and arbitrary dictatorship.

He stated further that native tyranny and oppression will
become more pronounced when a cabal or group of feudal lords seize political
power and refuse to hand over to others outside his own hierarchy.

For Chief Awolowo,
the inability of a regime, civilian or military, to extricate itself from the
‘sweet uses and chuckles’ of power breeds tenacity of office. He defined this
as a ‘political monstrosity whose characteristics are inordinate and shameless
love of power for its own sake…’

Chief Awolowo must be turning in his grave now because of
the political situation in the country.

My concern is that absence of a virile opposition has
reduced governance to dictatorship. My aim therefore, is to suggest ways
through which political opposition in the country may be more effective.

To arrive at these suggestions however, I took into
consideration some fundamental principles of politics supported with examples
from the Nigerian situation.

According to the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary,
politics is defined as “the activities involved in getting and using power in
public life, and being able to influence decisions that affect a country or a
society”.

Dr. Mabawonku, a
development policy analyst in his book, “Rethinking Political opposition for
Greater Effectiveness,” examines three fundamental principles of politics,
which in his opinion, explains some of the problems of effective political
opposition in the country.

First, he posits that power is the essence of politics just
as money is the essence of business. Secondly, he noted that while every
political position has attached to it some political powers, the effectiveness
of the power depend’s on the influence of the politician; and lastly he says,
political power and influence are never given, they are taken.

Mabawonku said although
these principles may not be generally acceptable, the continued success
of the patronage system of politics in the country may be explained partially
by these three principles.

I cannot argue less with this school of thought. Biblically,
without Satan mobilising cross section of angels to oppose the leadership of
God, there would never have been the need for God to exercise His authority to
create the earth and place man to take charge, lead over Satan and all that
oppose the rule of God. So, opposition is necessary for governance and
leadership to be effective.

For partisan politics
and opposition to be effective and beneficial to the electorates, government
should allow and create enabling environment for virile opposition. For opposition to be effective, it must be virile
and responsive not necessarily to demonise Government activities, but to
present alternate policy direction to government. If opposition parties cannot
show in real term what they have done in the past to lead and identify with the
needs of electorates yearning for change, they cannot serve as better
alternative.

There is need to have a critical rethink of the political
system in Nigeria, particularly the system and style of opposition. Perhaps,
the most important fact to consider in this respect is that we now have a
democratic system of governance as against military dictatorship. Unlike during
military rule when there were very few institutionalised means of opposing the
government in power, there are a wide range of opportunities for constructive
political opposition in the new democratic system of government.

First, the opposing political groups have the opportunity to
contest any election through registered political parties. Secondly, there are
opportunities for the opposition groups to lobby for specific legislations and
policies either by lobbying the legislators or through systematic public
outreach activities. Lastly, there are opportunities for political opposition
groups to take legal actions against the ruling party or the government.
Therefore, for a more effective political opposition in the country, the
following may be taken into consideration.

As postulated by Dr Mabawonku, power is the essence of
politics just as money is the essence of business. Unless a politician has
power, he can not have much influence in public life. Many of the existing
political parties in the country do not seem to have any real interest in power
and as such they cannot provide effective opposition to the ruling political
party in the country.

It is reasonable to expect that if the Alliance for
Democracy had contested the presidential elections in April 2003, the outcome
of the elections would have produced a totally different result and the
political situation in the country would have been more competitive.

Again, considering the large financial resources and
experience of the present ruling class, it is very unlikely that the opposition
group can oppose the political entrepreneurs effectively in their own game.
Therefore, there is need for the opposition groups to shift the focus of
political debates away from sentiments to address concrete development issues
and problems as well as processes.

It is particularly quite unfortunate that only one or two of
fifty nine political parties in the country are making systematic efforts to
challenge some of the unpopular policies of the present government.

Dr Akpogena, a Christian devotional consultant, writes from
Port Harcourt.

Lewis Akpogena

Oil & Energy

‘NNPC Spent N15b To Reconstruct Lagos-Badagry Expressway’

Published

3 months ago

December 12, 2022

The Tide

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) has disbursed N15 billion for the reconstruction of the Lagos Badagry Expressway under the Federal Government Road Infrastructure Tax Credit (RITC) Scheme.
The N15 billion represents a 100 per cent payment of the funding of the Lagos-Badagry Road rehabilitation under the tax credit funding of the NNPC Ltd.
Group Chief Executive, NNPC, Mr Mele Kyari, made this known when he led NNPC’s management team with some top government officials to inspect the ongoing rehabilitation and expansion of Lagos-Badagry Expressway (Agbara Junction-Nigeria/Benin Border).
The road under rehabilitation is being funded by the NNPC Ltd. under the Federal Road Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment Investment Tax Credit Scheme.
The execution of the scheme is being carried out in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing as the supervisor and Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) for NNPC’s tax obligations deductions.
This is in response to address the plight faced by petroleum products marketers in transportation which affects nationwide distribution.
Kyari said the fund disbursed was part of the N621.24 billion earmarked for the reconstruction of 21 roads nationwide under the scheme.
He expressed satisfaction over the stage of the road development.
“We are covering 1,804.6mkm across the country and taking another set of over a trillion naira investment on infrastructure in Nigeria, believing that with the tax credit system which Mr President has put in place, very soon there will be massive change.
“NNPC as the enabler will consider from its cash flow and fund whatever FIRS and Ministry of works approve for the company”, he said.
The Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, represented by the Director, Highways, Roads and Rehabilitation of the Ministry, Mr Folorunsho Esan, said the intervention of the NNPC sped up the reconstruction of the expressway.
Esan said the project was 40 per cent completed.
“In the next 12 months we should be able to deliver this project because the drainages are in place, just for earth works and pavement works, it cannot take us more than 12 months,” he said.
Speaking on the gridlock being caused by the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway project, he said the contractor would clear all impediments and move out of site by December 15 to make the highway free for Yuletide.

Oil & Energy

Oil Marketers Urge Buhari To Crash Diesel Price

Published

8 months ago

July 11, 2022

The Tide

Petroleum marketers under the platform of Natural Oil and Gas Suppliers Association of Nigeria (NOGASA) rose from their 2nd National Executive Council (NEC) meeting last week, within a plea to President Muhammadu Buhari to direct the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to make dollars available at official rate to oil marketers.
This, they said, will enable them import diesel, end petrol scarcity, and ultimately save the Nigerian economy from sinking, saying that dollar support should be available till Dangote Refinery comes on stream later in the year.
The association, among others, urged the National Assembly to immediately enact a Bill for the establishment of Energy Bank for easy transaction in petroleum products in the sector.
National President of the Association, Mr Benneth Korie, who briefed the media after the NEC meeting in Abuja, noted that the bulk of the operational challenge peppering marketers and depot owners spring from expensive diesel which hovers around N850/litre.
While thanking President Muhammadu Buhari for approving a higher bridging cost payment to transporters, Korie said the operators’ challenges were far from over as oil marketers and depot owners spend about N20 million weekly on diesel to power their operations, thus eroding their profits.
The association urges the National Assembly to review the policy of taxation as it affects petroleum products supply and distribution chain.

Oil & Energy

Senate To Honour Brave Petrol Tanker Driver

Published

9 months ago

June 20, 2022

The Tide

The Senate has resolved to honour Ejiro Otarigho, the brave tanker driver who drove a burning tanker from danger zone to avert a tragic fire incident in Agbarho, Delta State.
The Senate has also recommended Ejiro to President Muhammadu Buhari for National Honours.
This followed a motion moved by the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, and co-sponsored by Senator James Manager and Senator Peter Nwaoboshi, at plenary.
It would be recalled that in a rare act of bravery, Ejiro had last week driven a burning tanker from danger zone to avert what could have been a tragic fire incident in Agbarho, Delta State.
The incident happened last Friday when Ejiro drove the burning truck for 25 minutes from a densely populated area to Agbarho River where the tanker was completely razed in the inferno. The act was captured by onlookers and had gone viral.
Rising under Order 45 and 52 of the Senate Standing Order 2021 (as amended), Senator Omo-Agege stressed that but for Ejiro’s courage, a major fire disaster which would have claimed several lives and property could have happened in his senatorial district.
The Delta Central lawmaker noted that Ejiro’s “extraordinary display of courage, reflex application of special driving skills, and huge risk to his own life, prevented a huge national tragedy and catastrophe by driving a burning tanker loaded with inflammable petroleum products from residential areas to safety so that thousands of our people may not die in an inferno that would also have consumed so much property in Agbarho, Delta State on Friday, June 10, 2022”.
The driver’s audacious act of heroism, he stressed, has saved the nation from national tragedy and mourning.
Accordingly, the Senate resolved to “invite Mr. Ejiro Otarigho to the Chamber of the Senate for public commendation by the President of the Senate, Senator Ibrahim Lawan.
“Recommend Mr. Ejiro Otarigho to His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, for a befitting National Honour as Mr. President may deem fit for his extraordinary act of bravery, courage and skill that prevented the loss of human lives and property on a massive scale”.
President of the Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan, who presided over plenary, hailed the driver for risking his life to drive the burning truck out of residential area to save lives.