By Muhammad D. Eibo Adanu
Permit me to therefore, join our dear people of Lagos State and Nigerians as whole in prayers for your guidance and protection by the Almighty Allah in the discharge of your huge responsibilities as a Minister for Power, Works and Housing of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
In this regard, I must not forget to remind Raji Fashola to always strive to do the needful/ your best in improving the power sector, where a lot of young Nigerians have been traumatized by DISCOs, especially those who voted for APC. Understandably, the task is by no means easy in the face of scarce resources, compelling demands and the high expectations of our diverse people most especially this one that you almost an empty treasury by the out gone administration.
However, may I use this opportunity to remind the minister that, the privatization by the callous administration of Jonathan should be revisited to boost confidence reposed in you, especially our revered general, President Muhammadu Buhari. Indeed, your wealth of experience will come to bear in the discharge of your enormous responsibilities.
We pray to Almighty Allah to grant you more wisdom, good people around you and grace as you march to bring the much needed succor to the citizenry in the three sectors power, works and housing.
Hence your assertion as the super minister that Nigerians had waited long enough to get power, hence; the federal government had no choice than to deliver is a justification of your readiness to right the wrongs.
Speaking when he assumed office Fashola said: Nigerians were anxiously waiting for results. He said his thoughts were on how to bring together processes and activities of all the ministries under his supervision for effective service delivery.’’
Fashola also made his assurances known to the ministry’s leadership of his willingness to learn from them, describing them as “career people” who had been on the job for a long time shows that Nigerians can trust him in galvanism the nation electricity wise is a right step in the right direction.
“We want information on what has been done, what remained to be done, and what are the future plans, we want to continue from there”.
The super minister demonstrated his interest on how best to harness the available human resource and the physical assets in the ministry shows Nigerians can be rest assured.
And will seek information to assist before the administration will ground running, and that “we need to do more so as to regain lost time.”
I have said this severally, in some of my articles that this dispensation must not ignore public opinion in some strategic issues because by 2019 options maybe abound by Nigerians. All the rubbish they say about investor confidence is like basket that does not hold water, because no investor has shown interest. The cabals that are sagging against the reversal of the privatization cannot be a problem to the Federal government.
The FGN must not be cajoled or intimidated with this; PMB is the hope of the down-trodden in the society and must not forget this in a hurry why Nigerians stood in the rain and sun to cast their votes for him?. In fact, if a vehement review is done most of the bidders would be in serious trouble and could face criminal charges with their co-travelers.
Former Vice President Namadi Sambo was the NCP’s chairman through Bureau of Public Enterprises announced those who won the bids based on some key performance indicators and none of them has achieved any of the set objectives this is why Nigerian lamenting the excesses of the DISCOs.
The FGN still owns 40% through BPE and still the major single share holder in these companies appears to be a political-tele-marketing under PMB’s watch yet he said; he will kill corruption and impunity before the duo kill Nigerians remain to be seen, is like PMB alone in his quest or is it easier said than done?
The dilemma is that the representative of the government who are staff of the BPE do not care about the FGN holding but it rather unfortunate they do not protect the interest of their pay master, the FGN but connived with the new owners to wreck havoc both on staff and finances of these companies.
They have a lot of explanations to give here on earth and beyond. The regulator, NERC, could not enforce its guidelines on all aspects their work and was forced to soft pedal after its initial Open Book Review. The rot continues under its watch, it appears like it is a toothless bull dog. They did not order for the outright removal of the fixed charge imposed on Nigerians despite the directive from the National Assembly to do so.
Sincerely speaking if this administration is serious about fighting corruption and unemployment then, the power privatization must be revisited, thoroughly be reviewed and those behind the mess to face criminal charges no matter highly placed they are.
GEJ’s insensitivity to the feelings, views of Nigerian messed up his government, because his government was never heeding to the pressing issues that the common people wanted, Nigerians are suffering nobody needs to be told, our mirage of quagmires and squabbles are enormous ranging from poverty, corruption, insecurity and joblessness ravaging us, the PMB should know where it pitches and what the entire nation is dire need of at this critical time of our history as Nigerians feelings, where graduates cannot find a means of livelihood is indeterminate state, the massive sack by the DISCOs OWNERS calls for concern from responsive government if truly PMB is in charge and if those who are engaged working are complaining then those who are doing anything, what then can we say
Adanu wrote from Abuja. 08053954802
