It seems to me that representatives of NLC and TUC have been negotiating with Jonathan without a full understanding of how strong their hand is! Consequently, they are putting the Nigerian people on the defensive when they are so clearly on the offensive. For crying out loud, they represent the 99% who have had it to their ears with the monumental greed, corruption and inefficiency of the PDP oligarchy from Obasanjo to Yar'Adua/Jonathan! NLC/TUC should know that Jonathan is not in a position to dictate the terms of this negotiation. In fact, there is nothing negotiable in the basic demands of the people. Which is that:
It seems to me that representatives of NLC and TUC have been negotiating with Jonathan without a full understanding of how strong their hand is! Consequently, they are putting the Nigerian people on the defensive when they are so clearly on the offensive. For crying out loud, they represent the 99% who have had it to their ears with the monumental greed, corruption and inefficiency of the PDP oligarchy from Obasanjo to Yar'Adua/Jonathan! NLC/TUC should know that Jonathan is not in a position to dictate the terms of this negotiation. In fact, there is nothing negotiable in the basic demands of the people. Which is that:
googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('content1'); });
* Jonathan should raise the N1.134 trillion naira he hopes to save from the withdrawal of a phantom subsidy from those who have stolen far more than that amount.
* He should immediately cut the salaries and allowances of all political and top public office holders by at least 50%.
* He should guarantee security of lives and property for all Nigerians wherever they may be in the federation.
* He should get the refineries working again, so that the very cause of this fraud, this contrived subsidy -- the importation of refined petroleum products -- will end once and for all!
Which is the minimum position, a tip of the iceberg of the accumulated wrongs and grievances of the people.
If Jonathan says he cannot raise the money except by further impoverishing the people, then NLC/TUC must demand his resignation and make that the new slogan of the protests! We must insist: NOT A KOBO MORE, AND NOT ANOTHER DROP OF THE BLOOD OF THE PEOPLE TO FEED POLITICIANS AND OIL CONTRACTORS!
NLC/TUC should go to the next meeting armed with the suppressed KPMG audit report of NNPC and A bullet-point list of the many ways that Jonathan can raise N1.134 trillion naira without adding a kobo to the N65 per litre price of petrol.
I should add, however, that I am a little reassured that NLC and TUC are only suspending the protests. Were I back home and on the ground, I would argue in favour of that strategy as well. People should have time to recuperate and remobilise. The experience of the June 12 struggles, which necessitated alternating between street protests and stay-at-home civil disobedience, points to the need not to wear the people out, or even make it impossible for them to maintain their livelihoods, a great many of the protesters being artisans, traders and self-employed small -scale business men and women.
But there is something ominous in the language of those speaking for NLC and TUC, the principal platforms for the national protests. When the language does not indicate a readiness to compromise by accepting a reduced pump price of N90 or N120 per litre of petrol, it betrays a willingness to agree to the withdrawal of the so-called subsidy in March or April in exchange for reverting to N65. In other words, the masses would be spared any further blood donation to the oil cabal and the 1% for just 3 or 4 months!
If NLC/TUC betray the trust of the Nigerian people, they should know that they may never regain it again; never again be able to call the people out for any cause. And the Nigerian people must begin to plan to remain in the streets without taking directions from NLC/TUC.
And yet again, the statements emanating from the NLC/TUC ask the people to "rest, restock and get reenergized for the continuation of the strikes, rallies and protests from Monday 16th January, 2012." Which is very comforting.
It is NOW or NEVER for our country. While I see a long struggle ahead, I have no doubt that the people will surely win!They always do, sooner or later!!
googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('comments'); });
googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('content2'); });