Okonja-Iweala’s Gibberish

  

Since Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala heeded her father’s pleadings to stay back and mind our public purse, it was last week she got my attention. Her stuff about Naira’s free fall being normal didn’t get me. She said, “Nigerians shouldn’t be alarmed; it is normal for the value of the Naira to depreciate at this time of the year.”

 

But it sounded outright stupid to say it was “normal” for a once respected currency to keep plummeting. Naira now has the cedi reputation. Soon, a million of it would not buy a pack of sweet. So, may I then ask the once respected director of the World Bank: When will it ever be “normal”  for the Naira to rise?

 

Okonjo-Iweala should have returned to her seat at the World Bank when she wanted to. Already, it seems she has been tainted by the intricacies, protocols and bureaucracies of office. She said the exchange rate would stabilise if Nigerians want it to. What exactly does that mean?  Is she not aware that we have been crying for a stable rate since Obasanjo got to Aso Rock? Are Nigerians the ones to stop the slide? What are the monetary institutions, the government and the Finance ministry there for? If Okonjo-Iweala had been listening, as a way of feeling the pulse of the nation, she would have heard our cries on treetop. If she had discussed with MAN, somebody would have told her that a diving Naira does no one any good, except those in government.

 

No Nigerian would be bothered about what she does with the budget, which she said would be ready in January 2004. Budgeting was one of the things that almost made her quit. But of what use would it be if not implemented? Since Obasanjo got office, he has not implemented one budget fully. Of course, that caused his problem with the lawmakers once, when the National Assembly was still relatively independent. Obasanjo has run a government for almost a year before without a budget. So, what’s the big deal? 

Okonjo-Iweala’s budget would not even guarantee us a stable economy. It would not ensure low food prices in the face of Obasanjo’s stiff-necked deregulation. The signs are already here. And they are not good.

 

However, of all the Finance ministers’ “expert  opinions,” the one on HIV was the only one that got me. She reportedly said one out of every four Abuja residents is HIV positive. But, when did she become the Health minister? I don’t know her as a medical doctor. Even if she were one, what survey showed her claims?  Well, since she’s very knowledgeable and, as a government official, must not be countered by a mere mortal like me, then we take it that one out of four ministers, senior special advisers, special advisers, and other hangers-on is equally HIV positive. Or, does HIV respect political office holders? 

 

She described HIV as economic problem. But the only link between HIV and economy here is that the current reforms would spread more of the virus. How? More ladies would go into prostitution to survive. And since we now have confirmed homos, even in our nation’s hallowed places, what more can we say?  She even admitted that the so-called reforms would sweep millions of jobs next year. It’s then ridiculous to urge Nigerians not to be “alarmed,” when strangulating economic policies are wont to spread more hardship, more health problems and sudden deaths. I think, for now, Okonja-Iweal should just push her headgear up her head and think up more welfare schemes, rather than just talking gibberish.  

 

Nightmare in Attah’s Dreamland 

Last month, Akwa  Ibom officials bragged  that in October, “things would change for the better.” But they lied. Even as the Information Commissioner, Patrick Ekpotu, told me the roads would be fixed,  laughter escaped  from him, showing how serious he was.  It’s now end of November. And the only change  is from dream to nightmare.

 

Penultimate week, I was home to bury my brother-in-law. And apart from the haphazard job in front of the University of Uyo, every other road questioned Victor Attah’s  focus as a governor. Yes, he said the Resource Control suit against the Federal Government deprived him of developmental funds. But what did he do with the ecological funds he received before the suit? Certainly, if he had used the money to drain some roads, the transporters and commuters wouldn’t be weeping much now. 

Some months back, Attah  moved the motor parks out of the bowel of Uyo. On paper, it was a “good move,” ostensibly to decongest the city. But the three parks have been cut off by what the citizens derisively call “River Attah.” The famous river, however, “flows” everywhere in the state. On Abak Road, Aka Road, Ikot Ekpene Road and even at Ewet Housing Estate, where some of Attah’s men live and he even owns a plot.

 

While the road into Ikot Umo Essien from Aba has been  closed to traffic, the one coming from Umuahia has become a death trap. The Obot Akara bridge constructed by the colonial masters is barely passable. The situation is not different at Ibagwa bridge, where vehicles dump many souls into the river almost on daily basis as a result of the bad road. In fact, the roads in Akwa Ibom are so bad that Donald Duke of Cross River has offered to fix some, since vehicles pass through Attah’s domain to his place.

 

For Attah, it doesn’t matter. Afterall, he’s not going for a third term. So, even with the N3 billion he recently received from the Federal coffers, he shows no sign of positive action. Although an official told me he signed road contracts a few weeks back, the citizens would only believe with the roads done.

 

So far, the people have suddenly realised that they made a mistake voting for Attah in 1999. And those of them seeking  “a round peg in a round hole” are easily shot down by the man with endless “dreams.” But even his Ibom Plaza is dying. The sparking lights no longer brighten the night. Nothing to power them. The fountains dry up, when the water supplier fails to  show up.

 

On the housing front, the masses stand no chance.  Even if Matinelli, a Lebanese company allegedly owned by Attah’s friends, finished the 2-bedroom flats in the 32 LGAs on time, where does my mother get N2.5 million  to buy one? Yes, they have finished the blocks in Uyo, Ibiono, Itu, Nsit Attai, Ibesipo Asutan, but I would not advise my enemies to live there. I had it on good authority that the materials used were inferior. Sand scrapped from the roadside, for instance, instead of sharp sand. A source in the company said the houses could collapse anytime. One, there’s no indigenous production supervisor, so no standard is maintained. In some cases, the supervisors aren’t even civil engineers.

 

Well, to spread food for the boys, Matinelli sublet the contracts to Elecon, Franic and Silver Shadow, all companies with little known construction credentials. Expectedly, they are  behind schedule. Some are said to have abandoned the job and Matinelli is yet to get more money from Continental Bank, to finish up. But even if that job is done in our lifetime,  it’s not the expected “democracy dividends” to the masses. For, only Attah and his men would buy the houses and then sell off. What the people need is good roads, stable electricity and portable water. If he likes, let him add any other thing, later. We are waiting!

 

• First published in Saturday Sun of  Nov 29, 2003