Nigerian Government not quite sure who removed fuel subsidy
20 Jan 2012
Oya, confess, who removed our subsidy?
Abuja– The Nigerian government is currently grappling with a real life whodunit situation.
The problem facing the president and his cabinet is that no one knows for certain who removed the subsidy on petroleum products.
This amazing revelation emerged when President Goodluck asked the finance minister, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, to speak to Nigerians and explain - using her good English - why she decided to remove the subsidy.
Dr. Iweala, who is said to be the only cabinet minister that speaks back to the President, told GEJ that he must be joking or something. She reminded him that subsidy removal was not her idea.
“Ask Sanusi,” she said.
The CBN Governor was summoned to Aso Rock where GEJ tactfully asked him to “Remind me again why you decided to remove subsidy?”
Mr. Lamido Sanusi announced to the president that he was ‘most aghast’ at the suggestion that he was responsible for removal of fuel subsidy. A moment later, aghast registered on his face.
“Ask Allison,” he said.
The President sent for the Nigerian petroleum minister, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke, who is alsoNigeria’s richest minister, but word was sent back to Mr. President informing him that her Excellency was currently busy at Champs-Élysées in Paris, shopping, and would not be able to make it to the Presidential palace till the following Friday.
She did however send a BB message to him saying “It wasn’t me. Ask Ngozi or Sanusi.”
A special aide to the President later overheard him confronting the First Lady over the same issue:
GEJ: “Is it you that remove subsidy?”
Patience: “No o. Where did you keep it? Have you ask the cleaners?”
- Ngozi A.