There is a saying that
goes: ‘When two elephants
fight, it is the grass that suffers’. This saying that has been
used to characterise the carnage borne from the combat of two or more powerful
forces cannot be overemphasised as regards the current happenings and the
current state of the nation.
Nigeria is currently sitting
on a keg of gunpowder with all these uncertainties hovering around the
atmosphere. The government and some of its policies seem to have alienated the
concerns of the masses; the planned nationwide strike by the Nigerian Labour
Congress that is aimed at achieving the reversal of the fuel pump price, will
also adversely affect the poor and middle class - more than it affects the
power-holders that enacted the policy.
The Federal Government
removed the subsidy at a time when many Nigerians were experiencing the hiked
prices of commodities, and the lack of economic prosperity opportunities. This
hike was undertaken without proper orientation, and without the necessary
infrastructure like transportation system that would alleviate the effects of
the fuel price increase. The increased electricity tariff without adequate
supply of electricity was one blow too many, the falling Naira was another
piece of bad news that we did not want to hear. Now, we also have to contend with
skyrocketing prices of food, clothing, entertainment, general services and
everything else - simply due to the increase in the price of fuel.
I am not here to talk about
the economy or tell you what you already know. I am here to talk about my
people, the voiceless and helpless of the society. Those who cannot reach you
and tell you their minds. I am here to talk about the welfare of Nigerians.
Due to the recent decision of
the FG to remove the subsidy, the Nigerian Labor Congress (NLC) and other Labor
Unions have decided to embark on a nationwide strike scheduled to kick-off on
Wednesday 18th May, 2016. Nigerians have been advised by the
NLC to stock up food and needed items as all markets, offices, banks and other
institutions will be shut down.
The question now is this:
what is the fate of those who do not even have resources to buy food even if
markets were to be left open during the strike? I want the FG and the NLC to
know this, there is no country as long as the lives, welfare and wellbeing of
citizens do not matter to those who matter in the society and while you stock
up your kitchens, stores, fridges, etc also remember that the vast majority of
your citizens cannot remember how that feels like due to the unreasonable and
selfish decisions you have made so far. While you buy in bulk – bags, baskets,
cartons, drums, gallons and even trailers, these people only know and can only
afford to buy in cups.
The FG and the NLC should
come together and reach a reasonable compromise for the sake of the helpless
masses because like they say: “One
day, the poor will have nothing left to eat but the rich.” In
this regard, when your policies and decisions that have made children look at
their parents like failures reach a crescendo, there will be no one left for
you to govern.
This article is not meant to
blame or support anyone, however, I would also like to point out that ‘it is not the person who stepped on the fly
that killed it but the person who hit the fly down in the first place.’ That
also does not mean both of them do not have a hand in the death of the fly.
Abang
Dove writes from Abuja and she tweets from @AbangDove
Tags
Opinion