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The Loquacious Reno Omokri And His Putrid Yark On Vice President Osinbajo
By Bernard Okri
Reno Omokri one time aide of former President Goodluck Jonathan on social media is a glib talker. He is ever voluble in denigrating the
government of President Muhammadu Buhari at the slightest
and baseless issues.
He often times reacts on impulse, hastily brandishing phoney data to
impugn on the image of the government. He has ever been petulant and perpetually riled that his former boss fell by the way side during the 2015 general election after rejection by millions of Nigerians at the poll and hence, must fight back by making President Buhari a target of spurious attacks.
Omokri lays claim to being a pastor. But a genuinely called pastor is
Godly at heart. His tongue does not spill gibberish. However, this
Pastor has been dragging the pulpit to the gutters, plunging himself
deeply into the murky waters of politics and acting more partisan each time in his self imposed task of defending a former President who the world agreed presided over the most corrupt, inept, ineffectual and focus-less government, ever. No Nigerian needs a talebearer to affirm this, anyway. The truth is that there have always been litanies of woes heaped on the shoulders of former President Jonathan since his days in office and which a million Omokri can never successfully unbundle. Fact.
Still unrelenting like a loafer, Omokri just recently launched a
tirade against Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbjo for further
exposing the debauchery of corruption traced to the Jonathan years in government, averring that by re-telling the truth which Nigerians
already knew, the Vice President had submitted his “Lips to Satan”
The truth is that by going this far in maligning the person of
Professor Osinbajo, noted for altruism in service to the nation under
the present government, Omokri has exposed himself as a hypocrite, a groveler and a lost soul for electing to eternally bear the burden of
a former President who dragged Nigeria to the edge of a cliffhanger,
perhaps for a pittance!
Omokri defends Jonathan as if doing that will offer a reward of fresh
chance for the former President to return to power. He unabashedly
defends the buffoonery of the past government too, ending up as a
loner in the self imposed job. Perhaps, he should be reminded that
most ardent supporters and defenders of former President Jonathan have ended up in the camp of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and are now actively engaged in delivering the dividends of democracy where they are currently serving. Why wont they defect when they realized the fakery and mendacity of the past government and the ill it portended for Nigeria.
Vice president Osinbajo was, indeed modest to have only revealed that the Jonathan government stole and shared a total sum of N150 billion two weeks to the 2015 elections, while it spent only N153 billion on capital projects. It was worst when same government spent less than N15 billion on agriculture and even transportation a year preceding his exit from government. Available facts have always exposed the cesspool of corruption under Jonathan, which was quite sickening and capable of precipitating doom for Nigeria, but for divine intervention. Till date, no official under Jonathan has been able to account for the huge sums of monies; local and foreign currencies seized by this government in an Ikoyi apartment, Lagos.
The Vice President did not tell a lie, when indeed, many can still
recollect that two weeks to election, President Jonathan took plane
loads of hard earned Nigerian money to Lagos to share among PDP
stakeholders in the south-west for the sake of winning his reelection
bid. The estimated amount Jonathan wasted on that re-election bid ran to over N2 trillion, according to record! Yet, the humongous amount of money could not buy the conscience of the south-west, so Jonathan lost and woefully too in 2015.
Omokri may never want to remember a character like Diezani Allison
Maduekwe, former Petroleum Minister who laterally opened the vaults of NNPC for political marauders to pilfer from. Till today, Nigeria has not been able to quantify the amount of it’s money Diezani allegedly mismanaged, using mere cronies, sodomites and master heists. If a Jonathan protégée, Diezani was innocent; she would never have fled Nigeria for any reason. Nigeria had to depend on Britain to hold the former Minister accountable for the sins she committed against the country, all under Jonathan’s watchful eyes.
The case of Col Sambo Dasuki and the manner he allegedly shared the sum of $2.1 billion to big wigs of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is still pending in court. That amount as analysed is sufficient to construct state of the art airports in each of the six geo-political
zones of the federation.
Omokri does not believe the wife of former President Jonathan also
played a frontline role in depleting the national treasury with a mega
instinct of corruption, in which case the sum of USD 31.4 million she
claimed to be her own is frozen in a bank account linked to her by the EFCC. What about the sum of USD 15 million allegedly kept for the medical treatment of her mother, as well as the sum of USD 5.9 million she forfeited.
Now, Omokri’s Jonathan failed to do what Vice President Osinbajo has been doing, recording successes from special tasks. First, the Vice President on errand by Nigeria, had, through dialogue, helped to broker peace in Niger Delta where Omokri comes from. He spoke the subtle language, which calmed the anger of the militants to down arms. He is not relenting in bringing the zeal of the Buhari’s government for Ogoni clean up to come into reality.
As the head of the Economic Team for the Buhari’s government, the Vice President has helped to attain a good balance sheet of progress. The Economic Team has attained some measure of Ease Of Doing Business in Nigeria, which has attracted the commendation of the international community. Bringing stability to the FOREX, the National Economy is now stable, while people like Reno are not under pressure to flee the country for any reason.
What is more, the unflagging loyalty by the Vice President to his boss on governance has been infectious, stabilizing the polity for more progress to take place in Nigeria. With committed synergy, both the President and his Deputy had seen Nigeria out of a biting recession, into which the government of former President Jonathan plunged it.
The Buhari’s government is opening up Nigeria with infrastructural
development, constructing rail lines and roads to link up all parts of
the federation, including the Omokri’s south-south zone. Former
President Jonathan did little in that regard.
The Buhari’s administration in less than one year brought Agriculture
into the driver’s seat to drive the economy. The sector is, at the
moment locating Nigeria in the league of rice exporters on the
international arena, creating employment opportunities for younger
Nigerians who are emerging millionaires by the day. The agricultural
policy under Jonathan was all noise with insignificant visible result.
Most importantly, the Present government is fighting to roll back the
advances of Boko Haram, which its predecessor by negligence and
regrettable compromises encouraged. Unlike under Jonathan, Boko Haram is fast fading into the oblivion, limiting its actions to momentary attacks on soft targets. We still recall how the government of Jonathan encouraged the sharing of monies earmarked for purchase of arms among master heists who littered the cabinet.
From indications, Omokri, Jonathan’s life media spin-doctors may have been a major beneficiary in the reckless pillaging of national
patrimony, hence his eagerness to always launder the hugely dented
image of his hero and mentor. However, the scale of infamy by Omokri and his ilks in the days of Jonathan may appear concealed, for now. Nonetheless, when the wind finally blows the record book open, what Nigeria may see is an Omokri with a Janus face, a man no one dares call a saint!
*Bernard Okri, Public Affairs Analysts sent this piece from Asaba, Delta State
news
From Construction Sites to Community Service: Temitope Akinyemi Emerges as a Model of Leadership and Impact
Energy experts in Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector have defended the pricing structure of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, accusing some fuel markers of attempting to blackmail the refinery and mislead the public over the recent increase in petrol prices.
The experts said reports suggesting that the refinery’s latest adjustment is solely responsible for the recent hike in fuel prices were misleading, noting that importers are also bringing in petrol at almost a N1,000 per litre, while the refinery’s coastal price is N948 and the gantry or ex-depot price stands at N995 per litre.
They stressed that public comparisons fail to consider the differences in pricing structures and supply channels.
According to the experts, N948 per litre represents the coastal delivery price, which refers to petroleum products transported by marine vessels or barges from the refinery to depots along the coastline. On the other hand, N995 per litre represents the gantry or ex-depot price, which is the rate paid by marketers who load petrol directly from the refinery into tanker trucks at the loading gantry for onward distribution across the country.
The experts explained that the two figures should not be interpreted as conflicting prices but rather as different logistics arrangements within the petroleum distribution chain.
Speaking with our correspondent on Sunday, energy expert David Okon said the pricing adjustments were inevitable given prevailing market conditions.
According to him, Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals operates in a deregulated market and procures crude at international prices, which have risen sharply due to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
“The refinery is already absorbing part of the cost to cushion the impact of the crisis on Nigerians. We can see what is happening in other parts of the world where shortages and scarcity are being reported despite higher prices, yet the Dangote Refinery has continued to guarantee domestic supply,” he said.
Okon explained that when the refinery previously sold petrol at N774 per litre, crude oil was landing at about $68 per barrel. However, with crude now arriving at roughly $95 per barrel, the cost difference of about $27 per barrel translates to nearly N40,000 per barrel when converted to Naira.
“You cannot expect a refinery to continue selling at the old rate under those circumstances,” he added.
“If imported products were truly cheaper, importers would still be selling at the previous prices.”
He warned that without local refining capacity, Nigeria could have faced severe fuel shortages, long queues at filling stations and a resurgence of black market sales.
“Without the Dangote Refinery, many filling stations would likely shut down, queues would return across the country and black market traders would exploit the situation, hawking four litres keg at N20,000 or more. The refinery has effectively prevented that scenario,” he said.
Another analyst, Mohammed Ibrahim, also faulted narratives circulating in some quarters suggesting that the refinery’s pricing adjustment was responsible for worsening economic hardship in the country.
Accusing some importers of attempting to manipulate public perception, he said, “What we are seeing is nothing but deliberate blackmail by some fuel importers who feel threatened by local refining.
“They are twisting the pricing structure to mislead Nigerians and create unnecessary panic in the market.
“By exaggerating the refinery’s gantry price and ignoring the comparable costs of imported fuel, they are trying to make it appear as though Dangote Refinery is the cause of rising prices and economic hardship. This is a calculated attempt to protect their import businesses and undermine local refining, which is meant to reduce our dependence on imported petrol.”
Ibrahim added that such narratives were aimed at portraying the refinery as the reason Nigerians were struggling with higher petrol prices.
He stressed that petrol pricing in Nigeria is largely influenced by global crude oil prices, exchange rate fluctuations, and distribution logistics, noting that these factors affect both locally refined and imported fuel in the country’s deregulated market.
Afolabi Olowookere, Managing Director and Chief Economist at Analysts’ Data Services and Resources (ADSR) Limited, explained that although Nigerians expect refined products from the refinery to be significantly cheaper, prevailing market realities such as global crude oil prices, the cost of crude supply and refining margins make substantial price reductions unlikely in the short term.
“Therefore, improving domestic crude allocation to the refinery would strengthen supply stability and enhance the long term benefits of local refining for the economy,” Olowookere noted.
Recent conflicts in the Middle East and disruptions along key shipping lanes have tightened global oil supply, pushing crude prices past $90 per barrel, a development that directly raises the cost of both imported and locally refined petrol in Nigeria.
The unrest has pushed up fuel costs and transportation in several countries, including Ghana, the United States, the United Kingdom, South Africa, India, Canada, Brazil, Germany, France, and Japan, as rising crude prices increase the cost of refining, distribution, and logistics globally.
CHETACHI NWOGA-ECTON EMPOWERS 300 WIDOWS IN IMO
A renowned humanitarian and proud daughter of Mbaise in Imo State, High Chief (Dr.) Princess Chetachi Nwoga-Ecton, has empowered over 300 widows and vulnerable women across the Owerri Zone, in a remarkable demonstration of compassion and service to humanity.
The empowerment programme, which took place at the Palace of the Eze of Ngor Okpala, HRH Eze Engr. Fredrick Nwachukwu, brought together community leaders, traditional rulers, women groups and beneficiaries from different communities within the zone.
During the event, the widows received food materials and cash support, aimed at helping them meet basic needs and strengthen their small-scale businesses.
The initiative was widely applauded as a timely intervention to support women who often face severe economic hardship after losing their spouses.
Many of the beneficiaries expressed heartfelt appreciation to High Chief (Dr.) Nwoga-Ecton, describing the empowerment as a lifeline that would help them take better care of their families.
Some widows, while offering prayers for the philanthropist, noted that the gesture had restored hope and dignity in their lives.
Fondly known as Ada Imo and Adaure, High Chief (Dr.) Princess Chetachi Nwoga-Ecton has earned widespread admiration for her consistent humanitarian efforts both within Nigeria and internationally.
Through her philanthropic activities and foundations, she has continued to support widows, children, and vulnerable communities with interventions in healthcare, welfare and economic empowerment.
Community stakeholders who attended the programme commended the Mbaise-born philanthropist for her generosity and dedication to uplifting the less privileged, noting that her actions reflect true leadership and compassion.
Observers say the initiative further reinforces her growing reputation as one of the most impactful humanitarians of this generation, whose commitment to humanity continues to inspire hope across Imo State and beyond.
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