The June 12 national broadcast of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a day Nigerians remembered the rape of our collective will, the annulment of the 1993 presidential election clearly won by MKO Abiola by the military, got many people talking. People were expectant because it marked one year in office of the present administration whose legitimacy was fiercely contested by other political parties at the Election Tribunal, that eventually gave it clean bill of health after months of legal battle. National broadcast by any president, brings hope and reassurance for the people, despite the challenges and state of despondency exhibited by the citizenry.
All and sundry were in high hopes with the belief that Mr. President’s speech would bring some sort of succour, given the spiraling food inflation, minimum wage imbroglio between Labour and the Government, increase in electricity tariffs, taxes of various kinds, the fall of naira, among other contending issues the people are grappling with, in recent times. Eleven days after the president’s broadcast, Nigerians are yet to feel the impact of this solemn celebration, but instead, the yearnings continue across a wide spectrum of the society. Surprisingly, the minders of the presidency by their utterances, have continued the blame game that the current regime inherited a dead economy and therefore, Nigerians should persevere and show more understanding, even in their lowly state.
This position is unbelievable in a country that is greatly endowed in all things, by the Almighty God. This buck passing is not new in the last one year, even when the people have decided to move on, despite the hardship and insensitivity of government to the plight of the common man in the street. The question therefore is; how much more sacrifice can a people make in the face of hunger and uncertainty? Why is it that the masses are the only people that deserve to tighten their belts, while the leaders are at liberty loosen theirs? For example, the mansion of the Vice President, Kashim Shettimma, that was opened recently is said to have gulped about N22 billion, funded from the coffers of our common wealth. While the discussion subsists, the presidency is warming up to take delivery of yet, another two additional presidential jets, whose costs are yet to be made public, which certainly would run into several millions of dollars.
One jet, allegedly, would be for Mr. President, and the other for the Vice President, in addition to the already existing fleet of jets at the disposal of the number one citizen, his vice and their families. Not long from now, the aircrafts are expected to be delivered, especially now that the 10th Assembly has thrown its weight behind the purchase. The unhealthy development is similar to the yacht that cost several millions of dollars to buy which was denied and later turned out to be true, few months after the president assumed office. It is striking that when government needs something, the money is readily made available and fast too, no matter how much is involved, but if it’s an issue that concerns the welfare of the masses, so many economic jargons would be thrown up and the debates would go on and on, rationalising why government is handicapped to address such matter.
The issue of minimum wage speaks volume, even when it’s obvious that Nigerian workers cannot survive with the take home pay, owing to the inflationary rate that has hit the roof top, to put it plainly. Some state governors have already raised the alarm that the states cannot pay what Labour is asking for. The story of Nigerians and the leaders is a very interesting one such that the leaders and the led understand each other. It’s like the proverbial ”old woman that was asked to look after a baby who complained she had no teeth. The question is; ”was she asked to take care of the baby or eat the baby?”. Much as we know that our leaders understand our weaknesses as a people, having divided us along religious and ethnic lines, that should not be enough reason for them to kill us all. Whether they like it or not, it is still the people that elected those in political offices. The people therefore, deserve to enjoy some liberty and freedom in their own country! We have through this column severally advised government to be circumspect in decision making concerning the masses, with its claim of running a government of renewed hope.
The people are over stretched, to say the least. It is crystal clear, even to the blind man, that truly, Nigerians are suffering, going through agonising pains never known in the history of the nation, despite claims by spokespersons of the administration that the country is on the path of recovery. It’s ironical that a country so blessed with natural resources cannot provide for her people. While we agree that the government inherited a corrupt and dead economy, we want government to act fast in all programmes and policies targeted to lift the citizens out of the present economic quagmire, telling seriously on them. No thanks to the cholera outbreak that is fast ravaging the country which health experts allude to poor hygiene, that even sachet water has joined the rank of essential commodities in Nigeria. It is a crying shame that most Nigerian homes cannot afford a bag of sachet water. Asking the people to continue to endure without frantic efforts by government to improve the economy, and pull out the people from this state of hopelessness, hunger and misery is uncharitable and portrays the government as anti-people.
Reducing the hunger in Nigeria to mere politics, again, shows that some of our leaders are mindless and selfish, only concerned about that which would benefit them. This is the time for those who asked for our vote to act. Hunger and deprivation that have sent many to their early graves, should push the government to walk the talk, rather than appeal for tightening of belt. With what government is spending to maintain its bloated cabinet, it is diversionary and a big contradiction telling the common man to hold his appetite by tightening his belt, a ploy to hold us down unending!