Between then and now

Hope is good, because it gives enough motivation to keep going despite the rough tides. But when one waits too long to reap the benefits of hope, one begins to feel fooled and when one feels that way, it is a terribly overwhelming feeling

 

It was not a long time ago, not long enough to need any special skill to remember it. It was less than three years ago, the last time I breathed the air of Nigeria, the last time my feet touched the soil of my country, the last time I saw a danfo conductor battle a passenger, the last time I hugged my mother, the last time for many a thing Nigerian!

Though it isn’t a long time ago, it seems a long time ago because so many things have changed between then and now. Then, Nigeria was under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari. Then, Godwin Emefiele was governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and was taking steps we didn’t know would hurt our country. Then, Onyeka Onwenu was still alive, serenading us with her beautiful voice. Then, Adekunle Aromolaran was still alive and was the Owa Obokun of Ijeshaland. Then, we were not sure who would replace Buhari whose second term was in its prime. Then, Mr Peter Obi, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Prof Yemi Osibajo and Rabiu Kwakwanso were names being mentioned as potential successor.

At that time, university lecturers were asking for better remunerations; doctors were asking for more; and things weren’t anywhere near what was promised when Buhari was coming in. At the time, we were getting far less than we wanted. We had always got less than we wanted.

Between then and now, Buhari has returned to Daura and Tinubu has left Lagos for Aso Rock, where he calls the shot as the President and commander-in-chief of Nigeria’s Armed Forces.

Between then and now, Ahmed Lawan’s era as Senate President has ended and Godswill Akpabio, the one a bird claims believes any problem money can’t resolve can be resolved by more money, is now Senate President and we have seen many a laxity under his watch.

Between then and now, Nyesom Wike has transformed from being Rivers State governor to being Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, and the man he fought tooth and nail to instal as governor, Sim Fubara, has not danced to his tune, and he regularly takes to the media to express his disappointment.

Between then and now, Nasir el-Rufai has stopped being Kaduna State governor but, despite succeeding in getting his man, Uba Sanni, to succeed him, the centre has refused to hold, with all manner of allegations dumped at his door step.

Between then and now, fuel subsidy has been yanked off, and Nigerians now have to pay international rates to fuel their cars, fuel their electricity generating sets and power their homes and businesses. A car whose tank used to be filled with N8,000-worth of petrol now needs N50,000 for it to be filled up. It doesn’t matter that the earnings of millions have not increased; as a matter of fact, not a few have suffered financial losses.

Between then and now, Dangote Refinery, which was under construction, has been completed, but the feeling that the refinery would help bring down the price of petrol and diesel has remained nothing but a feeling. Maybe time will turn it to reality. On Monday, the price of petrol went up by 11%, the second increase in a fortnight and a day after petrol started being lifted from the Dangote refinery.

Between then and now, Naira, which was exchanging to a dollar at 360, is now one dollar to over N1,600. Because of this, the prices of cement, food, beverages, cars and all imported goods have more than jumped the rooftop. Books that used to cost between N2,500 and N3,000 now cost as much as N9,000 and N12,000. Then, millions of Nigerians were not buying and now only a few thousands will buy.

Between then and now, a new minimum wage of N70,000 has been approved, but workers still get the old wage, and from what the crystal balls reveal, only time can tell when this new wage will get paid so that it can offer minor reliefs to workers who struggle to fend for their families.

Between then and now, “Nigeria we hail thee” has wrestled “arise o compatriots” to the ground, but millions can’t still recite the old-now-new national anthem, which they believe is the least of what should have received the attention of the gentlemen and ladies in the hallowed chambers of the National Assembly.

Between then and now, our foreign missions have had their ambassadors and high commissioners recalled and civil servants, those guys a governor once described as evil servants, are the ones calling the shots there; they have done this for a substantial period and we are yet to see any sign that their days are numbered.

As a result of the difference between then and now, hope is the currency millions of Nigerians at home have to spend, hope that Naira, like flour, will rise and humble dollar and Pounds, hope that, some day soon, they will be able to afford their needs, hope that everything good will come, hope that a new era will come, one in which life will be good, in which life will be beautiful and in which life will be superb.

My final take: Hope is good, because it gives enough motivation to keep going despite the rough tides. But when one waits too long to reap the benefits of hope, one begins to feel fooled and when one feels that way, it is a terribly overwhelming feeling.

 

 

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