Part 52

From this man, the Sage had required an explanation of the various aspects of the national plan the federal government had proffered towards the development of the technology sector of the economy and their intent to plough back the proceeds from the exportation of the crude into the education sector and other parts of the economy. But it was a long time coming. The Sage was a convinced man. That he was convinced the nation’s economy was well off without the crude oil exploitation of foreign conglomerates was an understanding this familiar stranger was eager to refute. For it was a time of great debate on the way forward the national government was expected to follow. Most people would agree the benefits outweigh the risks, but few could foresee that it was a matter of giving up otherwise better opportunities; the development of the agricultural sector of the economy for example.

Often enough the Sage would find himself referring to the ideas professed by this friend as ideas foreign to the culture of the people. The Sage could not bring himself to concede that anything could be more acceptable than the farming, fishing and trading traditions of the villages; especially the villages in the south.