That Tinubu’s Easter message
Indeed, if there is anybody or group of people that deserves commendation and possibly highest national honours award in this country, it is the ordinary struggling Nigerian, who have been beaten and bartered through the years by successive governments, characterised by inept, greedy, selfish, wicked and short sighted leaders.
And we believe that there is no better time to give that special recognition and commendation than during the annual independence anniversary of this great nation, popularly referred to as independence celebration. But if our President, Bola Tinubu decided to do this during the Easter celebration it is still very significant and instructive because of the pains and sufferings Jesus Christ went through to redeem humanity. And at the end of the pain was great glory.
Indeed, the story of the average Nigerian for so many years has been that of pains, sufferings, hardships, deprivations, lack, want, insufficiency and what have you. But the average Nigerian has kept hope alive and still trudging on in the face of these ugly experiences he has been going through, bracing all odds.
The question therefore is, will these pains eventually lead to a better and greater tomorrow for us, will it bring greater Glory to the citizens and the country at large; just as the sufferings and pains Jesus Christ went through thousands of years ago brought salvation and redemption to mankind and also Glory to Jesus Christ as symbolised by the Easter?
It would appear that the President is using the Easter celebration to pass a very important and heart warming message to Nigerians, preparing them for that great day of honour and glory for the ordinary Nigerian whose resilience in the face of life threatening situations has earned him a place of honour in the Nigeria book of records.
We are convinced that this is what Mr. President is saying in his Easter message to Nigerians. Tinubu is not only acknowledging the fact that the citizens have passed through a lot, not just in the past 10 months he has been in the saddle as president but since even before independence, when successive governments in the country have not only taken Nigerians for granted but has ridden roughshod over the people, practically standing on the jugular of the people.
His message is a message of hope for Nigerians, of course he is running a Renewed Hope agenda. But it is not just a message of hope only, it is an assurance to the average Nigerian that all the pains and sufferings of the years past will not be in vain. And that it is a sacrifice we have all been making for a greater tomorrow that is just around the corner.
According to the President, our sacrifices have started paying off, what a reassuring message. In his Easter message Mr. President said, the pains, sufferings and patience of the ordinary Nigerian especially in the last few months of his administration has started paying off, “your sacrifices are beginning to pay off,” assuring that we shall surely triumph over our challenges as a nation.
Of course, Tinubu has never for once expressed any uncertainty or doubt about where he is taking the nation. He has always spoken glowingly and confidently as to where he is taking the country. And he knows that to get to that point he must carry the people along, and that is why from time to time he has always spoken identifying and sympathising with the plight of the people.
The President commended “Nigerians for the sacrifices they have made in the past few months for the nation to be steered to the path of recovery and sustainable growth,” assuring them that the seeds of patience, which they have sown, are beginning to sprout and will in no time bring forth an abundance of good fruits.
Have Nigerians been patient, yes, very patient, not just in the last few months of this administration, but as far as we are concerned since after independence or since Nigeria became a nation. But this is the first time a sitting President is acknowledging our pains and patience and talking with confidence about our sacrifices beginning to pay off.
Is his confidence misplaced, no. Recent developments in the polity gives credence to his optimism. Things generally are actually beginning to pick up. Two very important policy decisions taken by this government was the floating of the naira and the stoppage of fuel subsidy which worsened the plight of the average Nigerian in the past few months.
But now, the naira is gradually gaining strength in the forex market, and prices of petroleum products seem to be on the downward trend. Prices of foodstuff, though still high, are gradually coming down. The Nigerian stock exchange has been rated the best performing in the world and so many other pluses.
Yes, we are not there yet, but we cannot deny the fact that things are picking up gradually, so much so that an observer said recently that the noise, the condemnation of Tinubu and his administration on social media has reduced considerably. Is it that even the die-hard critics are also beginning to see and acknowledge these positive changes? No doubt.
No doubt, there are still many issues the government is tackling on so many fronts and Mr. President has kept assuring the citizens that he is fully in charge and that things are going to turn around for good for Nigerians. With the level of focus and confidence he keeps exuding despite challenges and opposition that seem overwhelming, we can not but agree that at last, there is light in the horizon or at the end of the tunnel.
The President wants Nigerians to continue in the spirit of the Easter season, yielding themselves to patience, selflessness, compassion and sacrifice and remaining steadfast in seeking a united, peaceful and prosperous nation which he says is just around the corner.
Easter is the celebration of resurrection, the celebration of life over death, the celebration of hope. Now it looks like life is really coming back to many dead areas of our nation’s life. What we need therefore is a little more patience, a little more sacrifice and we are there.
