The Lagos State gubernatorial candidate of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) in 2019, Chief Owolabi Salis, has cautioned President Bola Tinubu over an alleged plan to bomb oil thieves and vandals of petroleum product pipelines and their operational facilities.
Salis submitted that this decision would be counterproductive, as the so-called thieves are being lured into the business by the barons.
He suggested that instead of going after the thieves, Mr. Tinubu should launch an attack on the barons.
Salis added that the poor people are being used for oil theft, and it is not their fault because the government has failed them.
According to him, “Mr. President, if you can apprehend one traditional ruler, high government official, or top military brass or diplomat involved in bunkering, the game will stop immediately.
Singapore did it against corruption, and no one wants to be involved in corruption in Singapore.”
“The primary purpose of the government is to bridge the gap between the rich and poor in basic needs like food, medical care, and housing.
That’s why the government taxes the rich to support the poor.
“We should ask ourselves, Has the government done this? The answer is no. This primary objective is carried out in comparable societies.
“The past governments in Nigeria have failed in this primary objective. You cannot bomb them, sir. Arrest them and let them identify the real barons.
Bomb the real barons if you can, and the oil bunkering will stop immediately. You only need to bomb one baron. That’s it.”
It will be recalled that the Federal Government recently announced it would start air raids and bombings of criminals engaged in bunkering and vandalization of petroleum pipelines across the country.
In his reaction, the AD chieftain warned the poor and less privileged Nigerians who allowed themselves to be lured into the oil theft business by the oil Shylocks to desist and save themselves from unwarranted and gruesome deaths.
To Mr President, the United States-based attorney said the government must realise that some oil barons in the country lure the poor people into these criminal acts, taking advantage of the abject poverty in the country.
“So, killing by bombing the people vandalising and scooping the fuel will not stop or reduce the menace as long as the oil barons are secure because they never come to the scene of the crime.”
“These ignorant poor people are forced into the business because they are incapacitated. These are people who cannot afford to feed, accommodate, or care for themselves and their families.
“The real bunkers are in government, the military, traditional rulers, and others. They use the poor.
President Tinubu’s government must identify the real barons, bring them to trial, and apply whatever punishment is stipulated for such crimes. This will end the oil theft business in Nigeria.”
He said President Tinubu should rethink the idea of bombing the poor people involved in the field of crime.
The new approach to stopping bunkering is unfair to the poor. If Nigeria’s economy were good, no poor person would be involved in bunkering.
“My strong advice to Nigerians is to stay clear of bunkering. Otherwise, the government will bomb you without any consequences because nobody will open any criminal file for you.
“People doing the job are poor. The real barons never come to the field. These poor people are forced into the business due to poverty. These are the people who cannot afford to pay their bills.
“Leave bunkering or risk being bombed,” Salis warns the poor.
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