My name is Yomi Adegboye, popularly known as “Mister Mobility”. I am proudly Nigerian.
I am a graduate of Architecture and design from the University of Lagos, Nigeria. I also am BrainBench certified in Web Development Concepts. I run the top technology blog in Nigeria and West Africa. I speak at conferences and seminars, including international ones. I have done work for some of the top brands in the world.
I get up in the morning and head for work everyday with delight and excitement. What I do excites me. It provides help for hundreds of thousands of people. It puts food on my table. It showcases Nigeria to the world as a country with hope. It inspires young people around me to get up and be creative and hardworking too. As far as I am concerned, it is the best job in the world.
Any successes that I have achieved, however, have been inspite of the Nigerian state. My government does not do anything for me. I provide my own power, provide my own piped water, and provide my own security, amongst others.
I bear it all and make things happen inspite of these all.
Yet, our government allocates millions of naira in salaries and allowances to themselves. They fly around the world from public funds. Because of both their corruption and ineptitude, our petroleum refineries do not work, so they have to import fuel. Note that Nigeria is one of the world’s top oil producers.
Because of their greed and incompetence, I run power generators both at home and at the office almost in an unbroken chain.
The Straw That Broke The Camel’s Back
On the 1st of January this year 2012, our government pulled a fast one on us. In the name of fuel subsidy removal, cost of petrol has gone up from N65/litre to over N140/litre. This in a country where the average citizen earns less than a dollar a day. And this in a country where millions of dollars are budgeted for the president’s feeding, gardens and pleasure. Add to that his retinue of ministers, special advisers and hangers-on, and you can easilly see why I am angry.
I would have no problem with removal of fuel subsidy if:
- government was already fulfilling their responsibility to me, providing public power, security, roads, healthcare and water
- I was sure that the proceeds from this removal would not end up like all the other proceeds of similar actions in the past – in the pockets of the scoundrels who run this country
- the people were thought of and measures were implemented to cushion the effects of the spirals in cost of living as a result of this removal
- significant cuts are made in cost of governance of this country. The sacrifice should start with a huge cut in the bloated incomes of our leaders
All the above points are vital. Remove one, and I cannot in any way see how the removal of this subsidy is a good thing at this time.
Enough Is Enough
Yes; enough is enough. It must end here. This government (and subsequent ones) must be taught a firm lesson that power belongs to the people.
I am angry. Many young Nigerians are angry. This time, we have chosen not to sit in our homes and grumble. We have chosen to stand up and speak out. We have chosen to take to the streets.
We will keep protesting. We will keep encouraging the protests. We will be peaceful – and God alone help anyone who thinks that guns and tanks can hold us back.
Media Blackout & Government Propaganda
TV and radio stations have been silenced by our government. But we have the internet. We will shout, rant, rave, scream, sing, curse, and swear till we are heard.
Many of us protesting are some of the brightest minds this country has – young people who are bringing out water from rock everyday. We are the rock and hope of this country. That is why my anger is even more kindled when a buffoon by the name Labaran Maku, my country’s dishonourable Minister for Information, labelled us “hoodlums”.
This is a man whose only achievement in life is his appointment to the Federal Executive Cabinet. Take a look at him.
This man and others in Goodluck Jonathan’s government feed fat on our resources. Some of them earn more than the President of the United States does, though they are a million times more insipid and worthless than him in every way. Think about that.
They burn our fuel to live comfortably in palatial mansions and to drive around in extensive convoys of posh vehicles – all at the tax-payer’s expense.
As I write, several peaceful public protests have been going on for days in cities and towns across Nigeria. Note: peaceful. We have a right to protest. In Lagos, Ibadan, Kano, Kaduna, Benin, Akure, Owerri and elsewhere, people are tired and are putting their feet where their mouths are.
I Will Not Be Quiet. I Am Angry
I am a public figure in my field. I run the top technology blog in Nigeria and West Africa. I speak at conferences and seminars, including international ones. I have done work for some of the top brands in the world. I am not a hoodlum.
The security agencies know how to find me should they choose to. If history is anything to go by, I might be picked up soon by the SSS or any of the other fly-by-night security agencies here in Nigeria.
Those agencies have proven helpless against real menaces like Boko Haram, but they are quick to jump in to pick up peaceful citizens who are only asking for equity, justice and a decent living.
One idiotic policeman said that if we see them shooting at protesters, we should understand that they are only following orders. My prayer for him and those who think like him is that may they be ordered to shoot at their children soon. Perhaps, that will swing their brains back into action. I encourage our security agencies to think.
To Nigerian officers, I say: these selfish nitwits at Aso Rock trample on you everyday. Your salaries (small as they are) go unpaid for months. You live in hell-holes, and you are as much victims as we are. Then they send you to do their dirty jobs. Think! Then do what is right.
Still, should I disappear, people know where to look.
But this is not about me. Should I disappear or die, keep protesting. By all means!
I have more articles coming up on this blog, so bookmark this now. Print this article out. Re-publish it as you seem fit. This message must go round.
Also, feel free to voice out in the comments section below.
Enough is enough! Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria!!
Great work, Mr. Mobility. I’m in this with you. I got a threatening SMS yesterday in my zeal to organise a protest in my city.
Nigerians can’t afford to sit tight while some “Actual hoodlums” in the seat of power continue to turn us around. Passivity is another way to declare acceptance and complicity!
We need to stand out against this menace from our own Government!
In a little way we can; on Facebook, on Twitter, on blogs like this and even on the protest ground!
I hereby call on the NLC for a full blown nation wide industrial actions! If president Jonathan is too slow to think or is bereft of ideas, I suggest he does the next and only honourable thing! That is to RESIGN!!!!
i think it right time NIGERIANS tak action nd leave d talkin,dis was wat happen to d price of kerosine nd diseal which is now sold 4 150$160,re we going to fold our arms nd wait???????we celebrate 51yrs of indepedent yet we re still in slavery by our d govt which we voted in,4 how long will we continue to say HE GO BETA?????we nid to fight 4 our own freedom!!!!
I’ve already printed copies vb of this and plan on distributing at Onikan police station and a couple of other places where I can reach. Also shared this link and will continue to lend my voice in every way possible
Mr. Mobility on d move within da aqua-man-ium, kip it up we r behind u. to everyone else, pls, a broom stick Neva works alone, rememba dat
Kudos to you Mr Mobility….in these great cause I am with you…..now is the time…..Nigerians get up, stand up….stand up for your right……Don’t give up the fight…..One love.
No one will arrest you for sharing your opinion. The Nigerian constitution guarantees freedom of speech.
G.Jonathan lost evry bit of respect i av 4 him d moment he removed d fuel subsidy…He is nothin bt a betrayer…He has betrayed evrybody…He is a disgrace 2 dis country…we trustd him with our votes bt he failed us,he has failed nt only d masses bt God…the blood of d corps members dt lost dier lives durin d post election crisis will be upon him..Nigerians stand up 4 ur right!
Keep it up man!! No maga will arrest u,we r behind U
Proud of you Yomi for daring to prove that there is nothing to fear when you stand on the position of ‘right’. Nigerian needs 300 men and you are one of them. One day bush meat go catch di hunta. Do what you have to.
Hi Yomi, welldone for daring to stand for something. Not many do that in this day and age. I pray God keep and protect you.
Thanks Yomi, we all need to stand against this modern day slavery from our selfish leaders. Its time we let them know that they are accountable for our votes and I am exceptionally angry with GEJ. He should know better judging by his background and the campaign promises. God bless u Yomi.
We shld stp 2 much talkin!lets av an action plan on our to stage our protest.I am one of d 300 spartans, 9ja version.thumbs up yomi.
Already bookmarked and shared!, we must all put a stop to this as it is only in this country that you can do so much evil that you are respected for it. It is already bad as it is that an oil producing nation like Nigeria is buying petrol at 65 Naira, then they remove the subsidy that is not supposed to be there in the first place had it been that the current and past leaders made good on what they were supposed to do when they get elected.
Dear Yomi,
You were quite vocal..what a revolutionary mind you have..
I was just wondering how come WE all kept quiet as your 1 to 4 reasons above have been the case for so many years before Jonathan… I THINK OUR REVOLUTION IS COMING TOO LATE and wrongly directed…
Please forgive me to say the following: I hope to also enjoy that freedom to express myself differently.i also feel the pinch of the subsidy.
1) It takes several years and funds to provide infrastructure; roads, power, bridges and also the public systems that would tap into them; I’ll rather we do the removal of subsidy now than wait till it’s all done.
2) Jonathan came from us, we produced him, he is a Nigerian like you and I, and ‘majority’ also voted him in. If we trusted him as not being one of the so called cabal WE SHOULD TRUST HIM TO THE END.
3) Our revolution should not now be on Jonathan only, but rather on our individual selves, professions and places of work. Imagine if what has happened in some of the Arts (music, Nolly Wood) is extended to others including Architecture where we both belong. The revolution in Nolly Wood and Music industry is by youths like us- LETS CAUSE MORE of such in various aspects of life.
4) NLC and TUC members work in ministries, refineries, NEPA etc in various capacities. When budget is made available these people are also part of the spenders. Imagine if their offices (from lowest to topmost) are filled with creative people like you. WE need to cause revolutions in these areas and Nigeria will be a lot better. But they’ll rather attack Jonathan- the Scapegoat.
5) I wish WE go to the streets for one or two identified corrupt officials.. imagine if NLC and TUC say enough is enough for- police bribery on roads, improper function of Nepa day to day activities (the ones that are not Jonathan’s jobs) imagine if the roads are closed for non performance of various ministries responsible for approval of illegal Architectural drawings, quacks have taken over the professions… ETC
6) Let me stop for now..I see this suffering as temporary. i’ve planned to make some sacrifices to ussion the immediate effects of the removal of Suffering, sorry Subsidy. cheers
Yomi,
Its certainly obvious ‘You’re not Alone’, cos this is a collective struggle of all of us Youths.
The so called ‘Heads’ have failed us over and over again without anyone holding them accountable.
Yeah! With utmost impunity they have looted the treasury.
Now, we have awaken from the slumber of ignorance. We must take back the mantle of leadership from this uncivilized morons who have consistently failed to learn.
There epoch of calumny must come to an end!
WE MUST #OCCUPYNIGERIA