• Written by: African Politics
• June 4, 2023

Nigeria has been
plagued by a leadership crisis for many years.  This crisis is characterized by a lack of
competent, honest, and visionary leaders. 
As a result, the country has experienced
widespread poverty, corruption, and insecurity. There are a number of factors that
have contributed to Nigeria’s leadership crisis. One factor is the country’s
large population.  Nigeria is the most
populous country in Africa, with over 200 million people.  This makes it difficult to govern effectively
and to ensure that all citizens have a voice. Another factor is the country’s history
of military rule.  Nigeria has been ruled
by military leaders for more than half of its independence.  This has led to a culture of impunity and a lack
of respect for the rule of law. Finally, Nigeria’s leadership crisis
is also due to the country’s ethnic and religious diversity.  Nigeria is a multi-ethnic and multi-religious
country, with over 250 ethnic groups and over 50 different religions.  This diversity has made it difficult to build
a strong national identity and to unite the country behind a common version. The leadership
crisis in Nigeria has had a devastating impact on the country.  It has led to widespread poverty, corruption,
and insecurity.  It has also made it difficult
to attract foreign investment and to develop the country’s economy. There are a
number of things that can be done to address Nigeria’s leadership crisis. One important
step is to strengthen the country’s democratic institutions.  This includes ensuring that elections are
free and fair, that the media is free and independent, and that the judiciary
is independent. Another important step is to promote good
governance.  This includes fighting corruption,
improving transparency, and ensuring that the government is accountable to the
people. Finally, it is important to address the root causes of Nigeria’s leadership
crisis.  This includes addressing the country’s
poverty, inequality, and ethnic and religious divisions. Addressing Nigeria’s
leadership crisis will not be easy.  It will
require a concerted effort from all Nigerians. 
However, it is essential if the country is to achieve its full
potential. The possibilities of the country achieving its full potential remains
a mirage considering the wicked acts of corruption, bureaucratic and administrative
manipulations, subject to the major factors of economic growth and development. Nigerian
government officials are wicked. For instance,They invested heavily in the
Dangote group on an individual basis. The group borrowed US $3 billion to build
the refinery, which evidently cost US $3.8 billion to build.

Fraud No 1 – The refinery was revalued in paper
to US $13.9 billion when it was 70% completed.

Fraud No 2 – NNPC led by Mele Kyari, the
statutory industry regulator and affirmatively a competitor with three moribund
refineries in Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna, decided without public knowledge
or input, to buy 20% shares in Dangote Refinery. 20% shares is US $2.8 Billion.

The total amount required to revamp Warri and
Port Harcourt refineries is US $2.65 billion. The question here is, what is the
special interest in Dangote Refinery?

Fraud No 3 – The president of Nigeria hurriedly
commissioned a refinery that is only 80% completed. The refinery may not be
functional until January 2024. NNPC, the industry regulator had advised the
House of Representatives Appropriation Committee that the Dangote Refinery
would be up and Running in March 2023 hence there would be no need to make
provisions for Subsidy in 2023/24 Budget. Unfortunately, the Refinery is not
ready and there are no provisions for subsidy in the budget.

At the commissioning of the half-baked
Refinery, Emefiele, the famous Central Bank Governor, announced that Dangote
had paid 70% of the loan he took for the Refinery. I am forced to ask, how did
a Refinery that is not operational raise money to pay 70%? The Nigeria stock
exchange does not have any record of share sales in relation to Dangote
Refinery other than the NNPC investment.

Fraud No 4 -When Dangote came into cement
production, the government brought in  a fictitious
quality standard designed to restrict cement supply to his company and cut off
all imports. The same style has now been adopted to grant Dangote the exclusive
right to supply petrol to NNPC at a price determined by Dangote and his co- travelers.

Conclusion – the subsidy removal was planned
and agreed by the government as a pre-condition for Dangote to build a refinery
when the Western world is moving away from Fossil Fuel. The removal of the
subsidy is to maximize profits for the owners of Dangote Refinery ie Mr. Buhari,
Mele Kyari, Emefiele, and so on. The list is long. They do not care about the
common man. They forgot that there is no social welfare in Nigeria. They can
tell us stories about loans and palliatives to deceive us as usual. What they
do not know is that Nigeria is about to be set ablaze!!!