A person or group
opinion does not necessarily represent the truth; it is just an entitlement to
personal and group opinion. Nothing more! Certain commentaries on the present
administration in the State exude laughter. Human beings forget very fast.
Please, flash back to just some months ago, at the peak of the
primary gragra, the governor was completely ruled out of the race by the
Quislings for reasons ranging from the sublime to the ridiculous. The doomsday
prophets did not appear to reckon with his personality, integrity and
perseverance.
It is clear that many of the commentators hardly
know or understand the issues at stake. Probably these ones are super human beings who
know everything but have forgotten that the man on the hot seat is likely to
know what most of us don’t. He has access to privileged and confidential
information that informs the choices that he makes.
Every chief executive
enjoys working with those they know and are used to, especially if they are to
work as personal staff. President Buhari was accused of appointing only
northerners as personal staff. As a participant in partisan politics, it is
more painful, when you have worked and some outsiders are brought in under
various guises.
Governor Okowa
made a bold statement, which should be applauded by sticking with those who
fought day and night with him to become governor. His action in this regard is
something that would encourage people in the future to stick with their aspirants
or candidates. That is keeping faith.
Besides, there is also the need to cater for the
various vested interests and balance those interests in the overall interest of
the State. No mean feat when dealing with a rich coalition and
amalgamation of strong political forces and personalities.
In our polity, it is
not clear if most commentators are even abreast with the trending news in the
subject they discuss nor are they aware of the national dimensions. The
Nigerian federation is a combination of high dose of unitarism and some
elements of federalism. In the absence of fiscal federalism, the federating
units are mere appendages of the central government.
Since the present
administration came into power on May, 29, 2015, the revenue situation in the
country has remained parlous, with dwindling receipts from oil and gas. Like
every other State in the country, Delta is adjusting to finding local solutions
to the funding challenges.
According to an
authoritative report from the NNPC website, “due to the extended decline in
prices of crude oil at the international market, the federation account LAST received
dollarized transfer from sales of export crude oil and gas, including Nigerian
Liquefied Natural Gas NLNG feedstock in March, 2015”.
The report explained
that “the subsequent months of April, May, June and August had zero dollar
transfer to the Federation Account, as earnings were diverted to offset the
monthly Joint Venture JV cash calls obligations of $615.8million”.
Currently, Federal
Allocation committee meetings are held very late into the end of the month. In
situations where salary payment is predicated on FAAC, the consequence is that
salaries will invariably come late in the new month.
We seem to lack the vision of a people committed to a distant
future of development and success in our collective endeavours. And a
commitment to long term goals and aspirations that should see us towards the
choices that can birth a greater future.
Comments
Post a Comment