Fuel scarcity fuelling discontent among Nigerians

Fuel scarcity is just one of the numerous causes of discontent in Nigeria today, as there is a plethora them. Perhaps, that is why some years back, one international opinion poll rated Nigerians as the happiest people on earth. This rating, which though was on the negative side, was speaking on the scathing castigation of […]

Fuel scarcity is just one of the numerous causes of discontent in Nigeria today, as there is a plethora them. Perhaps, that is why some years back, one international opinion poll rated Nigerians as the happiest people on earth. This rating, which though was on the negative side, was speaking on the scathing castigation of the Nigerian working class and the poor masses. It went further to confirm Afrobeat legend Fela Anikulapo-Kuti’s satirical song, ‘Suffering and Smiling’, rendered many years ago.
When we juxtapose Fela’s in-depth lyrical expositions to the prevailing social economic and political realities in Nigeria over the years, we should have reason to collectively celebrate his philosophical and revolutionary consciousness. As the suffering masses continue to smile, the ruling class continue to take them for a ride. In the first instance, Nigerians should have no business with poverty, let alone fuel scarcity, that seems now perennial.
The root cause of the prevalent fuel scarcity in Nigeria is located in the greed and selfishness of the bourgeois political and economic actors who put profit and self-aggrandizement before the people. As a revolutionary movement, we all must be in the vanguard of turning these perilous, trying times into an opportunity to organize and mobilize the working class, students, peasants and the poor to action. Those who have been the cause and still are must not go scot-free as the will of the people is stronger, and more powerful when given direction to action.
It is pertinent to note that many sections of the society have a sense of alienation and disillusionment with its political class in Nigeria. Just like in the few years preceding the 1966 military coup, the political class is oblivious of the growing disenchantment permeating literally every strata of Nigerian  society, as every corner is consumed with individual and ethnic pursuits, with the accumulation of material and other resources.
Corruption was widespread before this government’s war on its alarming proportions. But Nigerian politicians are adept at using every means at their disposal, including bribery, intimidation and blackmail to cling to power and continue to perpetrate their crimes of corruption against the people. It is my sincere hope that this negative variant of democracy peters out, sputters and dies, so that we Nigerians can live.
Ameh wrote in from Abuja