Today is Christmas
Day 2017. All over the World, Christians and non-Christians, believers and
unbelievers, Men and Women, mono-sexuals and bi-sexuals, young and old are
observing the Christmas holidays; many in joyful moods, most celebrating, even
if some do not quite know what the celebrations are about. Particularly in
Nigeria, the whole Country is bursting with activities following a month long
build up. In many cities in Nigeria but more so in Lagos, it has been very
difficult to move around in the last couple of weeks as Christmas approached.
Nobody has been able to provide me with convincing reasons why this happens
every year. I am told that every body wakes up around this time to ensure they
do business (good & bad) before the year expires. For some, they must get
money to complete their new houses or buy new cars. Why would people wait till
a few weeks to year end to wake up and start running around and clogging the
streets? Difficult to answer. Then I am told that people come from out of State
to buy things in Lagos at this period. And then I ask, from where? and they say
from Ibadan, Abeokuta, Ijebu-Ode and from such far flung places like Port Harcourt.
Then I check with my contacts in Ibadan and Port Harcourt to see if the towns were empty
as many of their people are alleged to have migrated to Lagos to shop and to my
utter surprise, my contacts complain that they too were having problems with
traffic congestions in their own cities. And that worsens my confusion.
 |
| Motorists ueuing to get fuel |
Indeed
somebody says that the congestion is caused because both human beings and
spirits mingle together at this time. And I ask Spirits from where? And they
say aliens from outer space. And I say why? And I am told that some thing stirs
both the living and the dead at this time as the World marks the remembrance of
the greatest event in human history- The birth of Jesus Christ. Then I ask who is responsible for the regular
fuel
scarcity that happens at this time which helps to worsen the traffic congestion
in cities across the Nation, and which reached a new peak this year, Man or
spirit? I am told to ask the Minister of Petroleum Resources!
 |
Dr. Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu
Minister of State for Petroleum Resources |
|
You may not believe
any of these explanations or conjectures as to why these things happen at this
time all over the World including New York, Beijing and Moscow. But you can not
deny that the Christmas period is usually unique as no other time, no other
observation, no other memorial, no other holiday is like Christmas. And that is
the first reason, you must be Merry. The Birth of Jesus Christ and the yearly
remembrance - Christmas is the most unique thing that ever happened to the
World since creation. And if as alleged that even spirits and aliens from outer
space try to enjoy this period and in the process help to clog our roads, then
why should any one living not be Merry at Christmas?
For us in Nigeria ,
the second reason we must be Merry this Christmas is that Nigeria is recovering
from economic recession. In the last two years, we had lived in a contracting
and declining economy which truly affected many families' ability to celebrate
Christmas as they would have loved. Though it is not yet uhuru as overall
poverty level has not improved significantly, we can not deny that things are
somewhat better for the economy thereby reflecting on the People. For
example,at this time last year, many public sector workers in many states were
owed several months of salary, but this year, after several bail outs from the
Federal Government of Nigeria, including three rounds of Paris Club refunds, I want to assume that many
workers would have been paid some arrears recently and so should be in a better
position to provide a few things to make the family Merry this Christmas. The
number of Christmas carols held by corporate organizations and public sector
groups this month indicates some lifting up!
Thirdly, by this time
last year, the health status of our President was causing concern to the
President and many Nigerians- especially his admirers, party members and other
sundry supporters. But now, we can see that our President is fit as fiddle, and
while many wondered if his health would allow him finish his first 4-year term,
it is now clear that the President will do his second term and if possible and
allowable a third term. That to me should be enough reason for all Nigerians (except perhaps Atiku Abubakar, Ayo Fayose, Sule Lamido, etc who are eyeing his
job) to be merry this Christmas. We are enjoined to rejoice with those who
rejoice and to mourn with those who mourn. The size of the cakes at PMB's
recent low key 75th Birthday indicates that PMB is very happy with his health
and the Country and with the apparent vanquishing of IPOB, he smiles often
these days.
Fourthly and related
to the improved Economy is that the price of Rice- the most consumed food item
at Christmas has drastically come down. Last Christmas many families could not
buy a bag at over twenty seven thousand Naira per bag, but today a bag of rice
is sold around thirteen thousand Naira or even less. What is more is that the
local variety of rice is effectively competing with imported rice and many
average families can make a choice. EBONYI Governor recently gave 2000 bags of
EBONYI rice to PMB as a gift and I hear he has been very generous to his
brother governors and hopefully to his constituents. Fifthly, by this time last
the dollar was "ahia iwu"( illegal market!) and many families that
planned holidays abroad, either shelved their plans or paid through their noses.
Air tickets were over the roofs as exchange rate was crossing the five hundred
Naira mark for one US dollar. But today, the dollar has stabilized and trending
down as supply has vastly improved .Though the the one dollar to one Naira
promised us by PMB, is yet to arrive, a few more families can travel this year
and if you ask me that should be cause to be Merry, especially for the children
who love Christmas travels abroad.
The sixth reason we
need to have a Merry Christmas this year is that 2019 is on the horizon. 2018
will see the real escalation of political activities and with it, more money
will begin to circulate in the local economy. The congresses, the primaries and
the political campaigns will throw cash into the economy. Also the governments
at all tiers will also throw money into the economy. That is the way of
Nigerian politics. The elections will be funded largely from government
sources, so do not be fooled. Very many contracts and projects will surface-
budgeted and unbudgetted. Things like the governors' forum granting permission
to the federal government to draw one billion dollars from the Excess Crude Account( ECA) and the expected reciprocal gesture of the federal government to
the State governors. So you can just be Merry, knowing that 2018 will be awash
with cash.
Seventh, we must have a Merry Christmas as the Python dancers and
the Crocodile tearers have accomplished their tasks of intimidating the people
and shedding some drops of tears and blood. With them out of the way, Nigerians
in the South particularly should have some space to be Merry this Christmas.
Well, if some how
you do not find any of the reasons I gave above enough justification to have a
really Merry Christmas, can I just simply suggest that the fact that you are
alive this day,25th December 2017,is something to celebrate. If you check well,
you will notice that not all who saw Christmas last year are alive today. And
it is not just because you are more righteous, or because you have been more
careful. I make bold to announce to you that it is by the grace of God. And the
bitter truth is that not all those who are alive today, will see next year's
Christmas. Now you see my point? Merry Christmas Nigerians!
Mazi Sam I. Ohuabunwa
OFR
sam@starteamconsult.com
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