Buhari’s expensive Christmas gift

Nigerians can be funny even under challenging conditions and extremely depressing situations. Despite the economic recession in the country, Nigerians are just not losing their wit and sense of humour. And that is why I cannot help but highlight a particular shared post I saw on Facebook by an author whose identity remains unknown before I go ahead to make my point this week about the state of affairs in our country as we prepare for Christmas and the New Year. Here is it:

“Since Buhari is the most mentioned name in Nigeria this year, I think Oxford dictionary should consider creating a space for him in the dictionary like,
Buhari: /boo-ha-ree/ or /bohaeri/
Noun: buhari
1. Hard, hardship, difficult, harsh, tough.
Characterised by or causing hardships or problems.
E.g the economy is now in a buhari …for the masses.
Synonyms: painful, hellish, monstrous, arduous, gruelling, onerous.
Antonyms: easy, smooth, simple, tremendous.

2. To make a situation completely worse, unbearable.
E.g “Don’t come and buharificate issues here.”
“The only way to reduce applicants for the job is to buharify the process.”
Synonyms : complicate, complex, exacerbate, degenerate
Antonyms: easy, bearable, comfortable.

3. Terrible, hectic, hideous, difficult, stressful.
Synonyms: knotty, thorny, tough
E.g “How was your exam?”
“It was buharific.”
Antonyms: fantastic, pleasant, splendid, fabulous.

Now, beyond the joke the unknown author of that creative piece above is trying to pass across, what is clearly not a joking matter is the increasingly skyrocketing prices of food and other sundry items in the country especially at this period that Nigerians are preparing for end-of-year festivities. For instance, a bag of rice that sold between N9, 000 and N12, 000 a year ago is now N18, 000 and above. A bag of pure water that used to sell for N70 per bag is now N150. A pack of Five Alive that sold for N2, 300 is now N2, 800. Gala which used to be N50 is now N70 or N100 in some places depending on where you are buying. A handkerchief which sold for N50 is also now N100. A bottle of olive oil which used to be N250 is now N400. A brand of groundnut oil that sold for N1, 500 is now N2, 500.

The hike in the cost of most of these items is up to 100 per cent and even more in some instances. The dollar has moved from N190 to N490. From N87, a litre of fuel now sells N145. More Nigerians in small, big and even multinational companies are daily losing their jobs. And those who still keep their jobs have to manage their low salaries to make ends meet. This is the type of change that has come upon us as a country. This is the expensive Christmas that the Buhari administration has gifted Nigerians although it is an unwanted, unexpected and a clearly disappointing one.
The bitter truth, fellow Nigerians, is that we have never had it so bad. Under this government, we are experiencing the most expensive Christmas ever. Under this APC administration, things have simply changed from bad to worse. The economic hardship is being felt like never before. Yet, the President and his men are not sufficiently alarmed that there is serious fire on the mountain and they need to put on their thinking caps and work harder. Again, there is no evidence or confidence that the government knows the way out of the current quagmire through its lack of economic intelligence.
Meanwhile, back in January in my first article this year -2016: APC’s make or mar year – I had predicted that 2016 will be the year that will either make or mar the APC because it would become clearer to Nigerians whether the party will live up to expectations and deliver on promises it made during the 2015 electioneering campaigns or end up being a tragic disappointment and failure.
I also maintained that this is the year we will know whether the APC is serious about the change it promised or the party and her officials have only succeeded in deceiving Nigerians just to get to power without any serious blueprint on how to run the country. I equally pointed out that even though the APC has till 2019 to finish its first term, this is the year its true identity would be unveiled as Nigerians will be able to know whether the party is the messiah our country has been waiting for, or we are to keep waiting for another to come rescue us from the mess we are in. Now, with just 10 days left for 2016 to become history, there is no doubt about APC’s true scorecard. The party, simply put, has been a big disappointment.
I believe the calmness in the country that seems to suggest all is well with the people is false. It is not real. That is why the President, his ministers and all those at the corridors of power must not be deceived. While religion has been a restraining force in giving a sense of hope to the people that the future will be better and brighter, Buhari must not for once think Nigerians will continue to suffer the consequences of the wrong economic choices his administration has made since coming to power without asking him questions someday soon.
While it may appear on the surface that Nigerians are ‘suffering and smiling’ like Fela sang years ago, however, the smiling aspect may turn to popular anger and revolt if the administration doesn’t wake up from its long slumber and generally unimpressive governance. Buhari’s administration would only be deceiving itself to think that there won’t be consequences for overpromising and scandalously under-delivering like it has done in office so far. That’s a free advice.
No matter the efforts it intends putting in place to play catch-up, I believe most Nigerians have already formed their opinions about the performance and scorecard of this government. And this, I’ll add, is already shaping opinions as 2019 draws nearer. As far as I’m concerned, we certainly deserve better as a people. And so, as I wish all my readers a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, my prayer is that may Nigeria be delivered from leadership cluelessness that has held us back for so long. This is one miracle I believe our country urgently needs above all else as Christians across the world commemorate the miracle of the virgin birth of our Lord Jesus Christ this Sunday.

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