Nigeria celebrated its 63rd independence last October. Yet, the Nigerian people are not happy with their politicians because the country is facing the same problems they have had for decades: high unemployment, poverty, decaying infrastructure, and insecurity. In fact, Nigerian politicians are like wayward lovers. When you think you've conquered them, they will certainly desert you.
Just last month, Nigeria celebrated its Independence Day. However, among the Nigerian people, there were more complaints than celebrations, and there are valid reasons for that. After 63 years of independence, Nigerian politicians have managed to achieve a high level of joblessness, poverty, insecurity, and decaying infrastructure, among other issues. Nigeria has become a country where almost everything has deteriorated: our roads have turned into death traps, poverty and unemployment have worsened, people are lucky if they get electricity for up to 5 hours a day, and obtaining government services, such as applying for a driver's license, often requires bribing civil servants. Instead of focusing on apprehending criminals, the police were preoccupied with extorting drivers on highways. Additionally, both state and federal departments have been plagued by "ghost workers" – non-existent employees whose monthly salaries are redirected to enrich permanent secretaries and politicians.
Furthermore, the problem of insecurity has
reached alarming levels, with "unknown gunmen" causing havoc among
the Igbo tribes in Eastern Nigeria, Boko Haram and Fulani herdsmen creating
nightmares in Northern Nigeria, and criminal syndicates led by individuals like
Mujahid Dokubo-Asari, Ateke Tom, and Tompolo (Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo)
unleashing mayhem in the Niger Delta region. According to available published
evidence, this insecurity situation has resulted in the deaths of thousands of people
due to insurgency, kidnapping, banditry, and armed robbery in the country. The
impact on ordinary Nigerians is indescribable, echoing the words of the late
Afro King musician Fela Anikulapo Kuti, who said that economically, the lives
of Nigerians are rolling like a foolish ball, blown around by a foolish wind
from every foolish direction.
Meanwhile, Nigeria's newly elected president,
Mr. Bola Tinubu, emerged victorious in an election marred by widespread
irregularities and vote rigging. His campaign slogan, "fuel subsidy is
gone," echoed throughout the nation, and he emphasized this message during
his acceptance speech. He firmly believed that ending the fuel subsidy would
usher in a new era of prosperity for Nigeria. However, the consequences of this
decision were far-reaching, impacting various aspects of the country's social
and economic landscape.
The removal of the fuel subsidy had both
positive and negative effects, affecting the lives of ordinary Nigerians in
different ways. Some changes were welcomed, while others brought about
significant challenges. It is essential to delve into the multifaceted impact
of this policy shift. On the positive side, the removal of the fuel subsidy
marked the end of an era characterized by the twilight of former President
Muhammadu Buhari's administration. It symbolized a transition towards a new
chapter in Nigeria's history. Additionally, long queues at petrol stations
became a thing of the past, as fuel availability and distribution improved.
This alleviated some of the daily frustrations endured by the Nigerian
populace.
However, not all the consequences were
positive. The removal of the fuel subsidy led to an increase in transport fare,
which burdened the already struggling population. Unemployment rates surged,
causing widespread economic instability. Hunger and disease became more
prevalent, with the cost of food items and healthcare skyrocketing.
Additionally, school fees became unaffordable for many, and ASUU strikes
disrupted the education system, affecting the future of countless young
Nigerians. In essence, the elimination of the fuel subsidy had a far-reaching
impact on the daily lives of ordinary citizens, affecting their economic
stability and overall well-being.
Despite these challenges, one group that
remained resilient in the face of adversity was the working class in the cities
and the rural peasants and masses. These were the same individuals who had
turned out in large numbers to vote during the previous elections, enduring
long lines and harsh weather conditions. However, their votes seemed to be
caught in a never-ending legal battle, as election results continued to be
contested in courtrooms and debated in various forums. This poor and
marginalized segments of Nigerian society found themselves caught in a web of
uncertainty. They questioned the discrepancies between the evidence they saw
with their own eyes and the outcomes presented in court. They wondered why the
Nigerian judiciary often relied on obscure evidence and technicalities that
were incomprehensible to the average citizen in the pursuit of justice. In
simple terms, these poor Nigerians expressed their frustration, believing that
lawyers and judges had become entangled in a web of complex legal intricacies
that had distanced them from the realities of everyday life. They yearned for a
judicial system that would deliver justice transparently and comprehensibly,
bridging the gap between the legal world and the experiences of ordinary
Nigerians.
Suffering and Smiling
It has been a grueling five months since the
government's decision to discard the fuel subsidy, and the impact on the lives
of ordinary Nigerians, particularly the impoverished ones, has been strikingly
uniform across the nation. The contours of their existence are etched with the
harsh language of suffering. Among their ranks, you will find government
workers struggling to make ends meet, fishermen striving to bring home a meager
catch, teachers facing stagnant wages, farmers toiling on unyielding lands, market
traders trying to eke out a living, artisans honing their skills under
challenging conditions, market women enduring the marketplace's unforgiving
dynamics, laborers engaged in grueling work, and school children caught in the
crossfire of economic turmoil. From the northern reaches of Sokoto to the
southern port city of Port Harcourt, hunger and thirst have become constant
companions for these resilient souls. Many of them are forced to call makeshift
shelters, constructed from thatch, cardboard, scrap materials, and metal, their
homes. For hundreds of Nigerian children and adults, these rudimentary
structures represent the only refuge from the harsh elements. Some are reduced
to begging on the unforgiving streets, and their downcast expressions speak
volumes about their desperate circumstances. Ironically, the prospect of
incarceration seems preferable to some, as they envision it as a place where
they can at least find a bed and three meals a day.
In the rural heartlands of Nigeria, most
farmers dare not venture onto their own lands for fear of attacks by unknown
gunmen or clashes with Fulani herdsmen. Those who have managed to plant food
crops often find themselves unable to afford the basic necessity of fertilizer,
rendering their efforts less productive and exacerbating the food crisis.
Meanwhile, in the bustling cities, the ramshackle shanties of the impoverished
coexist uneasily with opulent mansions made of tile, stone, glass, and
concrete, predominantly owned by a select few among Nigeria's elite, including
senators, governors, counselors, local government chairpersons, and members of
the ruling political party. This stark contrast is nowhere more evident than on
the streets, where sleek, imposing jeeps and luxurious sports utility vehicles
belonging to the political class and the few wealthy Nigerians vie for space
and dominance alongside motorbikes, tricycles, wheelbarrows, and hand-pulled
carriages, all navigating the treacherous terrain of potholed roads.
Amidst these disparities, the impoverished
populace remains steadfast and analytical. They refuse to accept their
marginalized status and the ever-widening chasm separating them from the
affluent elite. They are asking difficult questions and demanding a better
life. The fuel subsidy may have been discarded with the wave of a bureaucratic
hand, but the poor of Nigeria refuse to be treated as disposable commodities.
They are united in their call for a more equitable and just society, where
their basic needs are met, and their dignity is preserved.
Missed Opportunities, Regrets Linger
As the time for the new school session
approaches, it is crucial to reflect on the state of education in Nigeria and
the government's role in shaping it. Looking back to the early days of
Nigeria's independence, we find a period often referred to as the nation's
golden age. During this time, leaders like Obafemi Awolowo, Nnamdi Azikiwe,
Ahmadu Bello, and Tafawa Balewa governed with limited resources, primarily
derived from taxes and agricultural products like cocoa and groundnuts. These
visionary leaders oversaw the establishment of some of the world's top universities,
such as the University of Ibadan, University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo
University), University of Nigeria Nsukka, and Ahmadu Bello University Zaria.
These institutions attracted international talent, with expatriates vying for
teaching positions across various faculties. These leaders understood that
education was not just a tool for personal development but also a means of
liberation. What united them was their unwavering patriotism and their refusal
to exploit state resources for personal gain.
However, from the 1980s to the present day,
it seems that Nigeria's ruling elite has deliberately undermined public schools
and universities. Public educational institutions have been deprived of
essential funding, forcing them to introduce tuition fees at all levels, from
primary to tertiary education. This policy has had profound consequences:
children from affluent families attend expensive private schools and
universities, both domestically and abroad, while those from less privileged
backgrounds are left with limited access to quality education.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities
(ASUU), representing Nigerian university teachers, has consistently raised
alarm bells about the deteriorating state of the educational system. They have
called upon the government to fulfill its social responsibility of adequately
funding education. Education is universally recognized as a fundamental right,
not a privilege. ASUU's efforts have included appeals, dialogues, warning
strikes, and, at times, indefinite strikes. However, the judiciary entered the
fray, deeming ASUU's strikes illegal based on obscure legal interpretations.
This emboldened the government to withhold nine months' worth of salaries from
ASUU members. In the midst of this struggle, the children of the less
privileged wonder: Who will pay their tuition fees? What awaits them in the
future?
As Nigeria marks its 63rd year of
independence, the prospects for the impoverished remain grim. They continue to
grapple with pressing questions: Who can afford the soaring prices of essential
food items in the markets? Who knows the hardship of waking up with empty
pockets? Who understands the daily struggle of living in squalor and disease
under a leaky roof? Who can empathize with the pain of walking barefoot on
rough terrain? Who comprehends the feeling of being trapped in a world devoid
of freedom? Who acknowledges that the government, in its silence, inflicts harm
upon its citizens? These questions weigh heavily on the minds of the less
privileged Nigerians, underscoring the urgent need for systemic change and a
brighter future for all Nigerians.
Notes
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