* Greedy politicians living large on country’s resources – CBN ex-director
By Nudoiba Ojen
Professor Emeritus in Petroleum Economics and Policy Research at the Centre For Energy Studies Louisiana, United States, Prof Wunmi Iledare, has said that the Chairman of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, should be celebrated and not blamed.
The industry expert condemned the current ding-dong talks between NNPCL and Dangote Group over supply and pricing of petrol from his private refinery, saying “it is unfortunate that Dangote is being discouraged and treated in bad manner”.
Iledare spoke as spoke as Guest Speaker on the popular monthly interview discourse, BOILING POINT ARENA on the topic, “The Nigerian Socio-Political and Economic Quagmire: What are the Rescue Options” hosted by a media professional and public relations consultant, Dr Ayo Arowojolu.
Foremost traditional ruler, the Olowu of Owu Kingdom, Oba Prof Saka Matemilola was the Keynote Speaker during the monthly current affairs programme which also featured another Guest Speaker, Dr Oluwatoyin Jokosenumi, a former Director at the Central Bank of Nigeria held via Zoom and broadcast live on a radio station, Sweet 107.1FM.
* Nigeria needs transformational leaders – Iledare
Prof Iledare said, “The Government blaming Dangote is a mistake because Dangote is a patriotic man that should be celebrated rather than condemned. The government must work with him such that there will be a solution to our petroleum downstream market”.
The expert said that lack of transparency within the Oil and Gas Sector especially proprietary data which are not being divulged to the public are factors precluding the citizenry from getting adequate price value for the essential commodity, despite nature’s endowment.
On why a local refinery such as Dangote Petrol cannot sell for a low price despite the non-inclusion of forex component and the oft-noised issue of landing cost, Prof. Iledare said, “There is a general lack of transparency in the oil and gas sector. E ma tuwo rara. Don’t go there at all because you will not like what you see, and perhaps suffer the consequences too. Understanding is deeper than knowledge!
“What you have in Nigeria is basically what I call transactional leaders instead of being transformational. You see, when you have a transformational leader, there’s a shared vision.
“We are having a crisis in the energy sector, especially the oil and gas sector, and the President is the main actor. That is not what the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) anticipated. The Presidency is not supposed to be the policy institution of the oil and gas industry. It’s supposed to be the Ministry of Petroleum.
Prof Iledare lamented that there is not enough public education in the industry and what has been pervading is economic populism whereby both government and the populace favour subsidy regime that has left the country perpetually under a string of poverty as borrower”.
* Single term enough for president, governor’s – Jokosenumi
Also contributing to the discourse on rescuing Nigeria from the brink of collapse, former Director at CBN, Dr Jokosenumi harped on the need to revisit the country’s political foundation.
He said that the greedy political class in the country have capitalized on loopholes in the Nigerian Constitution to live large on the resources of the nation to the extent that once voted into power, they amass stupendous wealth and perpetuate themselves in the corridor of power for too long at the expense of others.
Jokosenumi said, “We must look at our political system and the processes of choosing our leaders. The strongest recommendation I want to make is a one single term of five years for everyone at the national and subnational level.
“One term for everybody whether as President or Governor. The crazy idea about two terms must die. We don’t need it. Because average time of existence here in Nigeria is between age 55 to 60.
“A lot of our political leaders have been living on government for upward of 20 years and more. They will serve as Governor for eight years and they will go to Senate and have endless terms there. This is the only country in the world that after becoming Governors and Senators, these politicians shamefully will be lobbying to become Ministers.
“What are they looking for? How many years do they want to occupy office? They should give other people opportunity to serve. One single term is enough. Once, they are sworn into office, they stop real governance at the second year. Next is to steal money for the upcoming election and come and rub it on our faces.”
Jokosenumi said the present crops of leaders in the country today lack the requisite skills to unleash governance that ensures real development, submitting that there was need to revisit the nation’s political foundation.
He urged Nigerians to challenge the political class and insist that major amendments and reforms must be made to the current constitution to ensure a change in narratives come 2027 election.
