By; DAYO ISRAEL
Compatriots
Let me begin by thanking God for keeping us all alive to see the 7th month of the year 2024! It is only by His Mercies that we are privileged to be alive in this period/season, and when there is life, there is HOPE.
Talking about periods and seasons, we are in perilous times, from Europe to North America, North Africa to our home country Nigeria, The global economy is on a meltdown and prices of goods and services have increased beyond proportion.
The British people have been hit hard by the severe cost of living crisis that is now impacting the whole of the UK. Stubbornly high inflation, years of wage stagnation and the sudden and steep rise in energy prices have left millions of Brits on the brink of poverty. Many young people in England are now relying on Foodbanks to survive, with the UK former Prime Minister, Gordon Brown opening the first “multibank” of its kind in London, distributing everything from basic foods to baby products and toiletries, lamid continued concerns about levels of poverty in Britain as the school summer holidays begin.
In faraway United States, As of May 2024, prices for food, energy, and rent have increased astronomically, and inflation is a top concern for Americans. Cost of living remains a massive headache, even as recession fears fade. This has led to some workers taking on debt to maintain their standard of living.
The same is the story for many Nations including our Neighbouring Ghana, Kenya and other parts of Africa. Things are not as it used to be.
For many of us here in Nigeria, the experience is tough. Prices of food, cooking gas, medicines, fuel, and public transport have shot up, squeezing your meagre income. Diesel is at N1,300 thereabout, Petrol above N600, Pure water bag is N500 and a cup of Gari is N200 depending on where in Nigeria you are. I can go on and on but you get the gist. We are all experiencing it, all of us, irrespective of our party. There is no APC price at the petrol station, we all buy tomato at the same price in the market.
I know how you feel and I can assure you, this too shall pass.
On Thursday, the Minister of Finance announced that Nigeria is on a path of recovery. FG revenue to debt service ratio dropped 97% to 68%, and have surpassed half-year non-oil revenue by 30%. And yet, hidden behind these boomy-economic indicators, a frustrating reality persists: Life is still far too expensive for many of us. But worry not. I can assure you the man at the wheel has not blinked an eye in ensuring that we all can smile again.
The truth is, he inherited an economy that was already struggling with record debt, high unemployment, low oil output, subsidies that drained government finances and power shortages that have crimped growth.
As someone who as had the privilege of interacting with President Tinubu, I know of his heart to fix Nigeria, it is his intention to build a country we can be proud of and hand over to our generation a country with low unemployment. and massive industrialisation.
This is what is behind many of his policy decisions and programs – to give all Nigerians a chance at prosperity and to make our hope a reality. From the new minimum wage to student loan, Advancing local government autonomy to massive infrastructure projects, the President is unbundling his bag of goodies for Nigerians.
Since removal of fuel subsidy, there has been a notable improvement in Revenue and FAAC. States and Local Governments are benefiting from more resources to create social services for citizens in their states and localities.
I know some of these reforms are hitting you below the belt, but let us remember – though weeping endure for the night, Joy comes in the morning.
Joy is coming my fellow Nigerians. Mr President will make good his promise to Nigerians. You have endured a lot already, result is very close, don’t lose hope.
My most favourite verse is Galatians 6:9 – And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
Even n the Holy Quoran, Ash-Sharh 94:5-6 says, “For indeed, with hardship [will be] ease. Indeed, with hardship [will be] ease”
In recent weeks, our nations have been overwhelmed by the noise of agitation for Protest and shutdowns. While there are genuine reasons to express discontent with the current situations of things, we must never allow those who seek chaos, to, take advantage of our genuine agitations to cause mayhem and grind to a halt, our wheel of progress.
It is within our right to protest, I have participated in protest and believe in peaceful protest. As the President said, “we are not afraid of protest”. However our recent experience with the last National protest, in the name of EndSars, which started as a genuine agitation, and was later hijacked to cause mayhem and bring about carnage, destroying businesses of innocent individual in the process, have put us all on red alert when we hear protest. May we never again experience the carnage of EndSARS. Those who wish to set the nation on fire must be shamed.
As such, I called on all our progressive youths, Jagaban (Army) movement members; and the Nigerian youth at large, let us communicate our grievance through alternative means that do not put families and businesses at risk. We have only 1 Nation.
Don’t be misled by the enemies of Nigeria, and those who seeks to divide us.
Mr President has been following the agitation of the past few weeks and is listening. He is committed to make all possible short term amendment and fix low hanging fruit expectations. And you can be assured of the President’s doggedness and unflinching commitment to Nigeria’s success, he will leave no stone unturned.
Now, brothers and sisters, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance.
Dr. Dayo Israel is the National Youth Leader, of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)
