Baru! He said it, and I respectfully believed him. The NNPC has STOCKPILED fuel for the Christmas period!

Then, I did a stupid thing: I told everyone that cared to listen: THERE WILL BE NO FUEL SCARCITY IN NIGERIA COME CHRISTMAS 2017!

While I was echoing what Baru, the Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation said, the NNPC boss took off for London, leaving me in Lagos, to receive the taunting of cynics who knew the country better!

By Thursday, 21 December 2017, the fuel scarcity had grown stronger teeth, and was biting deeper. There was no fuel at Rabade Petrol Station, at Arepo. Matrix at OPIC had a terrifying queue, so I drove past Berger, and was seriously disappointed at Fatgbem.

The more I drove into Lagos, the longer and dreadful the fuel queue became. Until finally, I got to Iyana Oworo by the Expressway, detoured towards Anthony, and just from Gbagada Bus Stop, found shut petrol Stations, but with several roughnecks, selling petrol in 10 litre jerry cans. I parked. Everybody was buying. It was N2000 per 10 litre!

Maikanti Baru owes Nigerians an apology. Everyone knows it would happen. Christmas in Nigeria is incomplete, without a ritualistic fuel scarcity! But he told us, on his own accord, that He is made of sterner stuff. Here’s a man who is both dynamic and proactive, we chorused.

Nigerians don’t need explanation. Nobody is asking for his resignation. A poor, unfocused and corruption ridden country like Nigeria can’t develop such integrity in the next 10 years. Even if Buhari remains in power till 2030!

Meanwhile, the fuel situation has taken a turn for the worse: those queuing do it with animosity, blocking roads anyhow, and forcing others with little fuel to drive one way. The commercial drivers have hiked fares, 300 percent! In a Civil servant dominated city, with November and December salaries still unpaid!

If Baru stockpiled fuel against the Christmas and things are still like this, then let us thank God that Baru actually stockpiled fuel against the Christmas! What would have happened if he didn’t?!! Or was he simply lying, to impress Mr President, his employer?!

In the meantime, let us take the patience to Thank the EFCC Boss Ibrahim Magu, for the anti-graft recent intervention in the GTB – INNOSON imbroglio, particularly his prompt detention of Mr. Innocent Chukwuma. So objective and neutral was the EFCC, that the founder of Innoson Vehicles Manufacturing Group (IVM), allegedly rejected his release, Wednesday, wondering which Daniel actually came to judgment!

It was incicive that the Senate Deputy President, Ike Ekweremadu raised it at the plenary. It was not Chukwuma that was being embarrassed. It was the entire nation. And we are happy that Magu’s employer is seeing it all. But why add more, to Buhari’s pains? Why hit up the system unduly?

If anyone has single handedly embarrassed the Buhari’s administration several, it must be Magu.

He has been presented for the lawmakers’ ratification more than one. Each, not only ended in futility, but with Government coming back, bruised and black-eyed!

Against the Constitutional provisions of certain degree of respect for suspects, he more than once supervised Metu, former PDP mouth piece, being brought to court in chains!

Recklessly, we have watched the development and growth of a super- strongman, instead of a super- stable, credible institution. The EFCC sadly, has become an institution, selectively administering ‘justice’ on the opposition with arrogance, instead of objectively fighting corruption!

Anyone that joins the APC is deemed innocent, clean and saintly; and even with proven cases of corruption; the EFCC would suddenly become deaf, blind and immobile!

Nigerians know this is not the mandate Mohammadu Buhari gave the EFCC. Nigerians know that another soul with a more humble spirit would have done it differently. And Nigerians are waiting for President Buhari to remove Magu, and put somebody else, who would inflict less pains on the Presideny there!

I mean, for God’s sake, the INNOSON motor chairman went to Abuja properly dressed. Why allow him to come back to Lagos in shorts? Is that part of the Buhari mandate? No Sir!

If we denigrate our own people, particularly the ‘first elevens’ publicly, what moral right do we have bemoaning the Libyans for selling and buying our youths as SLAVES?!

Bi onigba ba pe igba re ni pankara, ara ita yoo ba fi ko Ile! (If the calabash owner calls it scooper, the outsider would use it to collect refuse!)

Pray for the President. His eyes are not God’s that effectively roves around everywhere, at the same time. The Chairman of a firm that employs 1,000 workers deserves better respect, let alone the one with far higher than that! Oko se ro, ni agbede n pa oko ta!

We love the President. We want to enjoy his Spartan, stoic disposition further. And everyone that would not add genuine values, but continue to remain a reference point in the area of embarrassment to Buhari’s sincere vision should be removed.

Nigerians are waiting!

May the President live forever!