t is a free world. Nothing stops Alhaji Aliko Dangote from making the proposal that the Federal should raise money to bridge the budget gap by selling its stakes in the Nigeria LNG Limited, Eleme-Indorama Petrochemicals among other investments. It is not by force. Dangote and the few who support his proposal should not be demonized for smelling an investment opportunity in Nigeria’s current economic predicament.
The thing that really gets me is the slant in the current news reports, "Federal Government yesterday dumped Alhaji Aliko Dangote’s proposal to sell Nigeria’s Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and other crown jewels to augment shortfall in revenue, . etc" Are we to understand that in a few short days, while the National Assembly was away on its weekly recess, an idea that has barely made it into the people's consciousness HAS BEEN TABLED, ANALYZED AND THROWN OUT? Behind their back? What were they thinking? Could the government actually have set that landmark disinvestment activity in motion within that short time frame? Even if it was a good idea? Only in Nigeria!
Some commentators have pointed accusing fingers directly at operatives in the current APC run government, instead of Dangote, for arranging to float this kite with the aim of cornering once again some crown jewels of the Nigerian economy, just like those before them. Our poiticians will never change. I wonder if indeed they were in anyway surprised by the shrill opposition from the enlightened public
I am of the opinion that until the Russians start giving away their gas for free as a strategy for remaining in contention, it is only a person or group with barely concealed criminal intent that will want to sell the most profitable of the few viable investments that the Nigerian government has ever gotten involved in. If those floating this silly kite didn't read any literature in high school, at least they had the equivalent of nursery tales and rhymes. Who among us has never heard of killing the goose that lays the golden eggs? That tale also has equivalents in most Nigerian folklore.
Haba Nigeria!
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