…Say Prices Of Essential Commodities Went Through The Roof
…Recall How Youths, Professionals Joined The ‘Japa’ Train
LAGOS – Dr. Victor Mathew, a cleric and security expert, has described 2023 as a year Nigerians would not forget in a hurry.
He expressed this view while commenting on the hardship Nigerians went through in the dying year, especially in the last seven months.
Dr. Mathew, Executive Director, Kingdom Advocacy Network (KAN), stated: “The year saw the wind up of former President Buhari’s government, a very keenly contested presidential as well as elections at various levels.
“The year also ushered in the government of President Bola Tinubu. It has become very obvious to everyone now that the Buhari’s government did not manage the economy well at all, with an unusual appetite for borrowing which raised it to an all-time high in the history of Nigeria.
“Regarded as the poverty capital of the world, Nigeria has over 100 million persons who multi dimensionally poor.
“If things were bad under Buhari, it has become worse occasioned by the removal of fuel subsidy without any well thought out government strategic response to provide palliatives and cushion the consequences arising from the removal.
“The other action orf government policy is the floating of the Naira which has made the nation’s currency to crash against the dollar.
“These twin policies hane brought untold hardship and suffering to the people
“Nigerians have never had it so rough and bad. 2023 has been very challenging and traumatic for Nigerians.
“On the whole, Nigerians are in a hurry to say goodbye to the outgoing year because life has become ‘short, nasty and brutish’
“The Christmas celebrations was done at the lowest level because of massive poverty, lack, hopelessness and despondency.
“Each day in Nigeria, very little is happening to inspire hope, instead the governments, especially the one at the centre, assembled very bogus officials, and a very big drain on the nation’s resources.
“Nigerians generally will never wish for 2023 again, especially after May 29. This has triggered widespread quest to ‘Japa’.
“A fallout from a gloomy landscape has created ‘A Jpapbe Industry’. The Japa syndrome has become a booming and flourishing industry.
“Nigerians are looking forward to a better 2024, looking up to God and the government.”
Ambassador Kalu Ofon Emmanuel, a public affairs commentator that the rich, the average class and the poor Nigerians have been badly affected by the economy.
Dr. Kalu, the Lagos State Chapter President of the International Human Rights Protection Service, Florida, USA, stated: “The poor economy has reduced many to mendicants, greater percentage of Nigerians could not pay house rent, lacked money for school fees, business investment, lack money for good medical treatment and people cannot feed well.
“The type of financial setbacks people have encountered in 2023 are such that they require urgent divine intervention. Many have sold their cars because of lack of maintenance.
“Nobody prays to have a replica of 2023 in 2024. Consequent upon hardship, Nigerians have experienced the highest crimes, stealing, fraud, kidnapping, ritual, massacre of innocent Nigerians and numerous heinous atrocities being perpetrated.
“Our prayers hover round having a better year of 2024. Government has a pivotal role to play to ensure realisation of better economy, food for the people, good security, good health system and so on and so forth. I believe 2024 shall be a better year for Nigerians.”
However, Julius Adegunna, a publisher, said he fared better in the outgoing year than the previous one.
Adegunna stated: “Even though the year began with lots of unguarded challenges from the selfish and poorly managed economy, to election crises, yet it ended up to an open administration that gave Nigerians a sigh of relief, unlike under the previous government.
“People talk about inflation, increase in costs of social services, but I still feel a Nigeria that is open to prosperity, and a government that wants to improve the lot of Nigerians.
“My advice to Nigerians is that rather than complaining, let them look inward, think and fix themselves in any workable aspect of the economy.
“They should also live a life of contentment. Diligent hands, the bible says, will be made fatter. Wishing Nigerians a more prosperous 2024.”
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