Golden Legacy

As is often said, power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. But, power, when deployed positively, is capable of provoking desired change for the collective good. Many African leaders have been credited with leaving lasting legacies while they held sway in the corridors of power. Among others were Thomas Sankara of Burkina Faso; Julius Nyerere of Tanzania; Anwar El Sadat of Egypt; Kenneth Kaunda of Zambia, and currently Paul Kagame of Rwanda.

Now, the President of Nigeria, a man known for his principle and personal stance against corruption, and who has severally stated that he feels the pain Nigerians are going through and has assured citizens of a better life, has a golden opportunity to make a difference in the lives of the present populace and generations yet unborn.

The chance to do so has been presented to him on a platter, in the form of the harmonised Petroleum Industry Governance Bill, which was recently passed by the National Assembly and transmitted to PMB for urgent assent so that the murky oil sector can be transformed into a clear, transparent cash cow which will generate revenue for the commonwealth and not the pockets of a few privileged few.

According to analysts, the PIGB, when passed into law after assent, will regulate the opaque operations in the extractive industry, and minimise the widespread corruption in the sector through tighter controls and institutional checks and balances.

The ball is now in Baba’s court to build and leave a golden legacy that will be remembered in the history of this country. It will be great to find out at last how many barrels of oil are actually produced on a daily basis, and how many barrels are diverted by oil bunkerers and privileged pilferers. That is worth knowing...isn’t it?