Be patient to tear the mask for prosperity
By Saka Folarin Lawal
After rain comes sunshine, after darkness comes the glorious dawn. Behind the mask of any nature of the hardship, there, it lies the beautiful soothing container of the prosperity. So, let us tear the mask!
In the history, Nigeria as a country, experienced tough times in the built-up this present political dispensation. It was during the period of the political activities that the Central Bank of Nigeria came up with its Naira Redesigned policy under the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Godwin Emefiele of the world. This policy suffered a general acceptability having appeared to be designed for ulterior motives because, firstly, it lacked the normal procedural arrangements and secondly, the pains of no cash at hand went through by the nigerians were quite unbearable. The citizens were drudgingly inconvenienced by the policy with fire brigade approach in nature. But today, history has the rest.
In the 2023 presidential general election, many candidates were obviously on the list from different political parties contested the President of the federal Republic of Nigeria. For the records, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of People Democratic Party(PDP), Peter Gregory Obi of Labour Party(LP), Rabiu Kwankwaso of New Nigeria Peoples Party(NNPP) and the Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu of All Progressive Congress(APC).
The election was characterized by the rigorous electioneering campaigns in the annals of our political system. As a result of the launched cashless policy of the CBN, no single candidate had access to cash and that unequivocally precluded the idea of inducing the electorates. But each candidate showed his mettle and the electoral promises were made. Most of the candidates have one promise in common and that is, the removal of the fuel subsidy in the eventuality. The subsidy, according to them, had become a stumbling block to the growth of the nation’s economy.
However, the Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu of All Progressive Congress (APC) emerged as the President of the federal Republic of Nigeria having fulfilled the necessary requirements by the law. Subsequently, in line with the electoral promises, the fuel subsidy was not on the docket. The preceding administration at the same time, had no provision for the fuel subsidy in the 2023 Appropriations after June. Mr. President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu in his maiden speech in May 29th, 2023 declared that the era of the subsidy is gone.
Following the Mr. President declaration of the defunct fuel subsidy, the cost of the fuel soared. Food and other prices followed. Things as a result, had gone skyrocketed. People are so anxious about the situation of things in the country. The nigerians are faced with mind boggling that the hardship in this new dispensation had become something else more than the people had bargained for.
In another development, I was privileged to listen and contribute to a discussion on one radio programme where people are expected to phone-in to talk on the sundry issues and most especially, on the hardships in the country following the subsidy removal. Many contributors contended that the new administration is intentionally or needlessly inflicting the pains on the inhabitants. Luckily enough, I got through to the discussion at least, to make my position on the subject matter and to correct the notions that we should rather see the whole scenario from the perspective of a fair shake on the part of the new administration, the good decision to reform the economy of our dear nation when the subsidy had become a thing of the past. That we are enjoined to be more patient with the Mr. President for his bold step towards achieving a stable economy. I enunciated, though, there is hardship in the country but going by the above assertion, behind the mask of any nature of the hardship, there, it lies the beautiful soothing container of the prosperity. The Holy Koran also expressed in the chapter 94 verse 5, “so, undoubtedly, along with the hardships there is ease”.
Arisen from Mr President’s speech when he addressed the nation sometimes, he is full of propitious statements having inundated with the cries of the hardships in the country. He made it known the vision of his administration regarding the journey to a better and more productive economy. He said that the welfare and the living conditions of the citizens are paramount importance to him as earlier pledged. He reiterated his stance in the voyage to the economic growth where our country will be free from a selected group of individuals who have become a serious threat to the fairness of our economy in the name of the fuel subsidy. He expressed his sympathy for the conscientious citizens that are being hurt by the economy that is going through a tough path but he urges them to look beyond the present temporary pains and aim at the larger picture. In his speech, Mr. President made mentioned the government intervention to reduce the burden our current economic situation has imposed on the citizens through the palliatives to cushion the temporary effect of the fuel subsidy.
As said above, though, it is not easy when trying to fix the economy of any nation and at the same time, the pains are very hard to bear. But the situations should be all downhill after the economy is fixed. Let us endeavour to increase our endurance spirits and hopefully, we shall put behind the hardships for a robust economy in the foreseeable future.
On the government intervention, the federal government is called upon to improve on the palliative being rolled out so that the considerable amount of the people can benefit greatly from the scheme. Alternatively, it is recommended when addressing the present challenges in the short run, flooding the markets with rice and other food items at affordable prices as this can be more favourable than the present modus operandi while in the long run, to embark on the Agricultural revolution where all the local governments of the federation will be mandated to go into farm settlements, a room for employment opportunities in the other hand. The government can consider as well the reduction of the taxes payable by the workers and the provision of the mass transit schemes to all the state of the federation including the federal capital territory.
Also, Nigeria being an oil producing country, it is disheartening the condition of our refineries that are still not working over the years. At this critical period, this is begging for urgent attention as the major cause of our present predicament. The states of the federation are also being charged to be an unbiased empire by carrying out the tasks expected of them effectively in line with the genuine intentions of the federal government.
Quite candidly, Nigeria is by all international standards a great country. Part of the wealthiest land in the world belongs to Nigeria. Demonstrably, we have oil which we have virtually been living on, but we have large reservoir of other natural mineral resources and indisputably, Nigeria is inherently rich. Another of God’s munificent endowment is the intellectual wealth of the people and that is evident in the Brain Drain which has attained global recognition. With the divine mercy bestowed on the nation through the human and natural mineral resources, we hope that all these shall be optimally harnessed to accomplish the economic prosperity of our dear nation.
Lawal writes in from Ile Ife
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