Issues or Personality? Truth or LIes?

One Musa Azare has written a rejoinder to my short comment on the recent hike in fuel price - in defence of the President, I suppose. My comment is at the bottom:
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Re: Fuel at N145: What a Disappointment!

A couple of days ago, the FGN announced a new fuel subsidy regime, which generated justifiable anger across the length and breadth Nigeria, with a sharp polarization into pros and antis! Although this rejoinder addresses a particular reaction to the pump price hike; that of Dr. Aliyu U. Tilde.

Yes, Dr. Aliyu U. Tilde, my big brother and mentor; that veteran writer who served as the Secretary of the Transition Committee set up by Governor Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar of Bauchi State in April 2015.

Dr. Tilde dismissed not only the removal of the subsidy as a "disappointment", but also all the explanations advanced by the Buhari administration to justify the removal, as an attempt at "abdication". "Is abdication the response of this government to any challenge as we have seen in MasterCards, fertilizer and now petrol?", he queried.

Dr. Tilde asked further that, "Is this the best bargain we can get with the President as Minister of Petroleum and Kachikwu as its Minister of State and GMD of NNPC?"

Well, Dr. Tilde is entitled to his opinion in a democratic setting but, I think just like the timing of the subsidy removal is ill, so is Dr. Tilde's opinion. It was simply laced with mischief and an attempt at a publicity stunt, or simply put, an attempt at moralization.

Retrospectively, some of us may still remember "the N565 Million question". For those who cannot readily recollect, a little rewind to April 2015 will not be out place.

Immediately after its inauguration on April 22nd, 2015 by the then Governor elect Mohammed Abubakar, the Bauchi State Transition Committee was reported by online news medium 247ureports.com, to have allegedly sought and collected a whooping N565 Million from the outgoing administration of Malam Isa Yuguda for the purpose of executing its work. The medium further alleged that the lump sum was collected by the Committee’s Secretary Dr. Aliyu U. Tilde. Although the allegation was debunked by the Bauchi APC in a statement issued on May 12th, 2015 by the party’s State Publicity Secretary Auwal Jallah.

The statement as reported by a section of the press reads in part; ‘‘……to put the record straight as it is in the tradition, every transition committee receives little token from the outgoing administration, and that was the only money received……and it didn’t reach even one tenth of the amount quoted.’’

As people in the state became curious about the story, the Secretary of the Committee, Dr. Tilde, who was alleged to have been handed down the money, was compelled to issue another statement on May 13th, 2015 via his Facebook page in which he stated thus; ‘‘My name is referred to in the article as having collected over N500 Million and transferred it to the account of the Governor elect.’’

Dr. Tilde added that, ‘‘Both assertions, I assure the public, are false.’’ However, he admitted that indeed a certain amount of money was collected by him but fails to mention the exact amount. Hear him, ‘‘The amount we collected has remained in my custody as the Secretary of the Committee…’’ And then, he assured that, ‘‘I will account for it fully at the end of our assignment.’’

As far as I know, Dr. Tilde is yet to give that account. I am not saying that he has not entirely gave that account, but I sincerely didn't read it anywhere.

Besides, of all the serious issues of governance in Bauchi State, Dr. Tilde has not for once lend his voice.

I think Dr. Tilde has a moral responsibility to account for that money first, before his sermon against the removal of the subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit, PMS.

Musa Azare.
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My Short Response:

Out of respect, I will give a short response to this post.
I deserve an apology from my brother Musa. Let him check my wall. I have informed the public of my submission of four copies of our committee's accounts book, to the last penny. But it seems to him what he doesn't know doesn't exist. Allah sarki.

On Bauchi workers, well, I will say the hardship is a calamity of the kind that doesn't affect only the guilty and which the workers allowed some of them to court for them. All would have been well with them were the verification not carried out and the ghost workers continue to be paid. Has any of the patriotic workers ever told the public that there are ghost workers? They kept quiet when ghost workers were added left right and centre to the payroll. Now Dr. Tilde should speak on their behalf, in their support. Hahahahaha... They have their union. Abi?

I am for verification. I advised the government on that. The only problem I have is the process in which some delay in payment is experienced by some already verified workers. They should be paid immediately they are verified. Thank God that the House of Assembly has directed so.

In my disapproval of fuel subsidy, let me say that I have been writing on FG policies for the past 18 years and I will continue. This government is no exception. Buhari chose to be there. He must know he is on the hot seat. I will criticize the policies of his government whenever I feel they are wrong. I will approve those that I adjudged good. It's a right. Buhari knows me on that very well.
Only one being is beyond criticism or questioning: God. "He is not questioned on what he does, but they (others) are questioned. Or do they take others as gods beside him?"
Thank God, I have only one God.

Finally, Malam Musa Azare, I am very keen to see your evidence of the N580 million. Just saying it is not enough a proof sir. The prudent work on evidence, the lowly, debased and mischievous work in malice and lies.

I think your post is so good Malam Musa Azare that it deserves to be placed on my wall. I will do so right away. Your post will definitely help the President in convincing Nigerians that his fuel subsidy is good for us and people like Dr. Tilde are wrong.
Gbam.

Aliyu