Contending Issues in the Niger Delta Crisis of Nigeria - Journal of ...

Chapter IX: The Politics and Policies of Oil Deregulation in Nigeria:
Implications and Policy Suggestions
representation Consequently, simple democratic demands have
become privileges dispensed by the governing elite as and when they
please. Democracy becomes a hollow shell to legitimize oligarchic
politics of greed and naked opportunism. The leadership has
contempt for its people and acts so in the most brazen way.
This then explains why an otherwise “democratically elected”
President could sit idly by pleading “deregulation,” “market forces”
and “liberalization” and increase the price of fuel on the eve of
Nigeria's (In)dependence anniversary as the government did in
October 2003.
While Nigerians desire focused and result oriented economic
direction, the administration of General Obasanjo by sheer paradox
holds the view that market liberalization through the policy of
deregulation is the way out of the economic downturn. The claptrap
about deregulation is becoming a recipe for chaos, lawlessness and
derogation of government's minimal responsibility to guarantee
human security for its peoples.
For a government that came about as a result of Nigerians'
undiminished desire for a government of their choice, the Obasanjo
regime has wasted all the good-will and it is today compared poorly
with the sadistic regime of late General Sani Abacha. Irrespective of
whether the comparism is popular or not, right or wrong, the fact that
otherwise well-meaning and respected Nigerians and the majority of
grassroots people have spoken these views, tells more about the depth
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