SOME RADIO BROADCASTS SAID IT WAS THE EIGHTH TIME FUEL PUMP PRICES WOULD RISE SINCE PRESIDENT OLUSEGUN OBASANJO CAME INTO POWER. A WHOPPING N60. EVERYONE THINKS THEY ARE PAYING THROUGH THE NOSE FOR A LITTLE BIT OF DEMOCRACY.
IT HAS BEEN A LONG TIME COMING.
DEMOCRACY---NIGERIAN STYLE
NONE EVERY THOUGHT AFTER ALL THE PROMISES OF MAKING SURE FUEL SUPPLY WAS STEADY FOR JUST A LITTLE MORE NAIRA SOME OTHER KOBO WOULD TOP THE PRICE. NOW EVERYONE IS AFRAID THEY HAVE NOT SEEN THE END OF IT. NOT EVEN CLOSE. MOST PEOPLE PESSIMISTICALLY ANTICIPATE THAT PRICES OF FUEL WOULD JUMP N150 BY THE END OF THE YEAR, OR AT LEAST BY THE TIME THE ADMINISTRATION CHANGES HANDS, IF THERE IS SUCH A THING IN AFRICA.
THE MOST PAINFUL THING, THEY SAY, IS COMPARING FUEL PRICE WITH THE COST OF A BOTTLE OF BEER. NOR NEARLY THE SAME THING. ONE IS A NECESSITY. THE OTHER IS A LUXURY.
THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO DO NOT GO NEAR A BOTTLE IN MONTHS. BUT EVERYONE HAS TO DO SOMETHING WITH THE HELP OF PETROL EVERY DAY ALL DAY.
FOR A COUNTRY STRAPPED WITH TRANSPORTATION PROBLEMS AND THE FOOD SHORTAGES THEY CREATE, THERE IS SURELY A FUNNY WAY OF GOING ABOUT GUARANTEEING THE DIVIDENDS OF DEMOCRACY.