By Dele Sobowale

“Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.”
Wendell Phillips, 1811-1884, American abolitionist.
(VANGUARD BOOK OF QUOTATIONS p. 129).

Future historians writing about Nigeria might be forgiven for observing that the slave trade in the country lasted until 2011 – the year  David Mark was the President of the Senate. Mark is ably supported by the Minister of Petroleum Resources and the GMD of NNPC, whose tenure had been elongated – probably to help get the atrocious bill passed as it is. The country’s number three citizen might eventually have an accomplice in the Federal Government – if the Presidency signs the bill before May 29, 2011.

Not once in all the almost 300 years, when trade human beings flourished, did the white man go into the bush to capture slaves by himself. Instead, he had some of our forefathers, paramount rulers, warriors and African mercenaries to go and catch their fellow Africans, bind them, hands and feet and deliver them in chains to white traders – for a profit. Right now, under the deliberate pretence of passing a Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, the Senate is getting ready to please the International Oil Companies, IOCs, and sell Nigeria down the river once again.

If you think that is extremist and alarmist, then the graph which is on page 18 of a publication prepared by a Federal Government Inter-Agency Team on the Petroleum Industry Bill reveals much. This is the real stuff, and no forgery, I spent a lot of money to obtain a copy and, as you know, Area Boys don’t buy fake goods.

For the sake of those who might not be able to read graphs, the faculty of UniJankara will interpret so they will understand what all the palaver is about.

At the moment close to 76 per cent of revenue from deep water operations accrue to the Federal Government –custodians for the Nigerian people. The House of Representatives, demonstrating more patriotism on this matter, had left the nation’s share largely intact in the House version of the PIB passed. For once, I have reasons to extend our collective gratitude to Speaker Dimeji Bankole. At least this has proved right the old dictum, “nobody can be wrong all the time.”

The problem is with David Mark’s Senate. As shown in the diagram, the Senate version of the bill will reduce Nigeria’s share to less than 58 per cent or a drop of about 18 per cent. Now, if you think that is nothing to worry about, then, remember this. A top official in the petroleum industry has informed me that the difference could cost Nigeria up to N1 trillion annually. And, the loss will be perpetual once the bill is signed into law.

Most of our senators, if they stop long enough to think about anything, other than how to collect jumbo payments, might consider what N1 trillion a year can do for their country, our country. Certainly, properly spent and not embezzled, it can reclaim all Federal Government roads in less than two years. On the other hand, it will increase the percentage of the GDP spent on education and give us a real chance to keep pace with more advanced countries. It will surely reduce maternal deaths, infant mortality and ensure food security and sustainability. Given away, as the Senate now plans to do, it can only fatten the purses of Shell, Mobil, Chevron, AGIP, Total – in short the IOCs. That explains why they are all for it and want to rush the Senate into passing this atrocious bill.

As most predators seen on the National Geographic documentaries, they have introduced some of their usual scare tactics. Newspapers at home and abroad are full of stories about investments being shelved until the PIB is passed as if we have fully exploited the oil and gas reserves we have at the moment. Yet, the truth remains the same. Oil companies invest in a country only as long as they can make profits; they pull out when they cannot or when the oil dries up as it has in Oloibiri and Forcados. They also deploy bribery and corrupt our leaders. Today, the Dutch government is investigating the activities of one of its own. The revelations so far have painted a slave/master relationship between Nigeria and the IOCs. Anybody who thinks they are our friends must either have rocks where brains are supposed to be or must have joined the folks in the Ministry of Petroleum who have betrayed our country  for crumbs from their masters’ tables. Interestingly, while foreigners eagerly testify, the two most concerned N
igerian ministries – Petroleum and External Affairs – have not sent a single witness. It is understandable! They, like Oliver Hazard Perry, would have had to confess to fellow Nigerians that “We have met the enemy and they are ours.” (VANGUARD BOOK OF QUOTATIONS p. 48). With pockets full of IOCs’ dollars, who of them can testify against their paymasters? And, here at home, they continue to harass the senators to hastily pass a bill that is clearly not in the public interest. Why is David Mark going along?

BODE GEORGE: WHAT BECAME OF HONOUR? -1

“You cannot adopt politics as a profession and remain honest.”
Louis McHenry Howe, 1871-1936

“Party is the madness of many for the gain of a few.”

Jonathan Swift, 1667-1745.
Howe was correct and Swift was even more right. Political parties, usually a haven for people who are generally dishonest, can only remain cohesive by encouraging the “madness of many” Swift wrote about. But, there are some lunacies that need to be seen to still be disbelieved. Thus, when, what I dismissed as rumours, started circulating, that Bode George, would, on his release from prison for betraying his country, parade himself about Lagos as a hero, I was sure it would not happen. Nobody born and properly brought up in our part of Lagos, where Pa George (Bode’s father) was one of shinning examples of rectitude, would be so brazen as to treat as inconsequential a jail sentence which has been confirmed by the Court of Appeal after a Lagos High Court passed the original sentence. Even if, as Bode’s supporters were claiming, the lower court was biased because it is “an ACN” court, how about the Court of Appeal, which is a PDP court?

LIKE “FATHER” LIKE SONS

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Headline: “Ogun Crisis: OGD’s supporters hold anti-OBJ protest.” I’m ashamed dat Obasanjo & Daniel could be throwing mud! Would Mandela or Bill Clinton do dat? …Obasanjo selfishly does NOT want 2 be d Elder Statesman but forever a combantant! Shame on Nigeria for not being able to put General Obasanjo where he should belong—“Retired”. O.N Chukwukere. Abuja.

Nobody can throw mud at Mandela because the Papa of Africa became old without being senile and he also knew when to quit. Uncle of Nigeria is like Mubarak or Ghadaffi; people like them have to be kicked out screaming and kicking because they believe they are indispensable. He deserves the mud – and more!!!