By: Ven. Amb. Nelson Fadoju
If you want to know the true state of Nigeria today, don’t go to the air-conditioned halls of UNGA in New York. Come to Oja Oba in Akure,Ondo State, Ado-Ekiti in Ekiti State, to Bodija Market in Ibadan,Oyo State, to Mile 12 in Lagos and other markets in Portharcourt, Onitsha and Abuja, the Federal Capital of Nigeria. Look into the eyes of the people.
What you will see is not the grammar of diplomacy. You will see HUNGER. You will see ANGER. And you will see UNGA – a government that appears to be speaking to the world while the world of the ordinary Nigerian is collapsing at home.
Most Politicians want the Electorate/Citizens to trust them by what they say or do and within themselves, they don’t trust their members. That is why Presidents and Governors are always afraid to transmit powers to their second in command.
That is why after general meetings of their Party members, another meetings are held a day after and quickly followed by another caucus meetings at midnight.
Close to this is that every Government keeps saying the public should be patient and there is hope for over 40 years and when another Government assumes power, it is repetition of the old order.See Abuja roads that are always budgeted for,for the past 25 years, yet, they are not motorable.
The same is about the bad Nigerian Economy which has impoverished the poor people and still, they want people to believe that they are working and that,without them changing their styles and asking for forgiveness, they are saying tomorrow shall be better.. I pray so.
Nigerian Government is doing well outside her territory but,”Charity refuses to begin from home” in many ways.
We protect other African Countries. We restore Peace. We provide Electricity and Petroleum fori other Countries while Nigerians are suffering from the same facilities.
Nigeria has become “A ri Teni Eleni Fapaadi bo tire mole”.This may be due to the Yoruba’s popular saying of “Adie nlaagun, sugbon iye apa re ni ko je ki a mo” meaning that, the Government is trying, but it is overwhelmed with various Man-mountain problems.
The Government is using the same old styles of corruption, selfishness, administrative absurdity and deceit which Nigerians have been witnessing from ages past under the Civilian Rule.
Most Politicians want the Electorates/Citizens to trust them by what they say or do and within themselves,they don’t trust their members.That is why Presidents and Governors are always afraid to transmit powers to their second in command.
That is why after general meetings of their Party members,another meetings are held a day after and quickly followed by another caucus meetings at midnight.
Close to this is that,every Government keeps saying the public should be patient and there is hope for over 40 years and when another Government assumes power,it is repetition of the old order.See Abuja roads that are always budgeted for,for the past 25 years,yet,they are not motorable.
The same is about the bad Nigerian Economy which has impoverished the poor people and still, they want people to believe that,they are working and that,without them changing their styles and ask for forgiveness,they are saying tomorrow shall be better.I pray so.
Nigerian Government is doing well outside her territory but,”Charity refused to begin from home” in many ways.
We protect other African Countries.We restore Peace.We provided Electricity and Petroleum to other Countries while Nigerians are suffering from the same facilities.
1. THE HUNGER IN THE LAND
It doesn’t start with this Government but we have never had hunger this bad. Nigerians are wallowing in abject poverty with the removal of fuel Subsidy without long term plan before the removal.
A bag of rice that was N8,000 in 2015 is now about N70,000, the basic salary of Govt worker where private business owners pay about #15,000 to #35,000.. A crate of egg is now luxury. Gari, the food of the common man, has become gold. A family of four now spends 90% of their income on foods alone. What of the cost of house rent, and transportation, Children School fees, fuel for car, health, domestic needs etc.?
The Naira has been floated to drown. Fuel subsidy was removed without cushion. Electricity tariff was increased without light. The farmer in Benue cannot go to farm because of herdsmen and Boko-Haram. The farmer in Oke-Ako who manages to farm cannot bring his produce to market because transport cost is three times the cost of the goods.
This is not economy. This is economic punishment of the poor. When a man cannot feed his children, you have broken the first social contract.
2. THE ANGER ON THE STREETS
Hunger breeds anger. And Nigeria is angry.
The youth are angry because there is no job. First Class graduates are riding Okada, doing Yahoo, or queuing at POS stands. According to NBS, over 53% of our youth are unemployed or underemployed. Government says jobs are coming, but the only jobs that are booming are Government palliatives sharing and Political appointments.
The rule of law has failed. A poor man who steals a phone gets 5 years in prison. A big man who steals billions gets a plea bargain and a chieftaincy title. Court orders are disobeyed. The Security Agencies that should protect us now extort us.
Insecurity has become our daily anthem. Kidnapping for ransom is now an industry bigger than agriculture. Bandits tax farmers in Zamfara. Boko Haram still kills in Borno. Unknown gunmen still operate in South East. No Nigerian sleeps with the two eyes closed.
3. JAPA AND THE REJECTION ABROAD
Our youths are running – JAPA. Every family has one child in Canada, UK, US, or trying to go. We trained doctors and nurses with taxpayers’ money, and they are now treating oyinbo in London while our General Hospitals are mortuaries.
And even in JAPA, there is humiliation. UK and Canada now reject visas with flimsy reasons. America has tightened. And our brothers in South Africa – what they do to Nigerians is shameful. Xenophobic attacks, police harassment, visa denial, killing of Nigerians and calling us criminals, while South African companies like MTN and Shoprite reap billions from Nigeria. Where is reciprocity ? Where is our Foreign Policy?
A country whose citizens are not respected abroad has failed at home.
4. UNGA AND THE EYE SERVICE GOVERNMENT
As I write, our leaders are in New York for the 81st United Nations General Assembly, UNGA 2026. Fine suits, fine English, big speeches about climate change, occupying more UN positions and world peace.
But the question Nigerians are asking is: Who is speaking for us? When you speak about poverty eradication in UNGA while poverty is eradicating your own people at home, it is eye service.
Diplomacy is good, but charity begins at home. We want our President to address UNGA to end Hunger and Anger, but we want him to address the high cost of living in Nigeria first. Stomach infrastructure first. “Ebi kii wonu k’oro miran tun woo”.
5. THE PRELUDE TO 2027: HANGER-ON AND POLITICAL GANG-UP.
As hunger and anger grow, the politicians have started their game. The Coalition for 2027 has begun. We hear and see Rainbow coalition aided by Coats of many Colours, all in their bid to occupy political Positions in 2027 and not in the interest of the poor people where they will end hunger and anger.
It is not a coalition for the people. It is a coalition of the hungry-out-of-power, looking for a way to become hungry-in- power. Same faces that ruined us from 1999 till today, decamping from one party to new Coalition of no ideology, no manifesto, only ambition.
They are not discussing how to bring down prices of fuel, gari, house rent, transport, vehicle parts, School fees, electricity bills, land rates. The Senior Citizens with old pension and gratuity are dying of hunger. They are busy discussing how to share Presidency, Vice Presidency, Senate Presidency. They are already buying delegates, while people cannot buy beans.
Nigerians are watching. We are tired of dividends of democracy that are only dividends for politicians – SUVs, N160m, new jets, while citizens trek.
The Social Contract says: We give you our votes, you give us Security, Food, Light, Road, School, Hospital. Where are they?
6. WHICH WAY NIGERIA? – SUGGESTIONS FOR HOPE
There is still light at the end of the tunnel, but the government and citizens must act.
TO THE GOVERNMENT:
1. Declare a State of Emergency on Food: Open borders for food import for 12 months, give direct subsidy to farmers not to politicians, deploy the military to protect farmers in Benue, Plateau, and .Niger. A hungry nation cannot be secure.
2. Cut Cost of Governance: Reduce the number of Ministers, SAs, SSAs. Sell one Presidential Jet and use the proceeds to fund Primary Health Care. Nigerians cannot be tightening belt while government is loosening belt.
3. Restore Rule of Law: Obey court orders. Jail looters, not just yahoo boys. When people see justice, hope returns.
4. Jobs Over Palliatives: Stop sharing N5,000 palliatives. Use same money to fund Agbeladun Cooperatives to grow our Agriculture through mechanized farming, and vocational centers in all 774 LGAs. Teach youths to fish.
5. Respect Nigerians Abroad: Summon South African Ambassador over xenophobia. Demand reciprocity. Set up Diaspora Support Desk in all embassies.
TO THE CITIZENS:
1. Don’t sell your vote in 2027. The N10,000 they will give you is your 4-year hunger.
2. Go back to farm. Even if it is backyard farming. No nation develops without feeding itself.
3. Hold Local Government Chairmen responsible. FAAC money is going to the LGAs now. Ask questions.
4. Pray and Watch. Be vigilant. Insecurity starts with information. Report strange movements.
CONCLUSION
Nigeria is not a poor country. Nigeria is a poorly managed rich country. We have land, we have oil, we have brains, we have the youth.
But hunger does not listen to grammar. Anger does not listen to UNGA speech. 2027 is coming, and the people will speak not with placards, but with PVCs.
Let those who have ears, hear.
Ven. Amb. Nelson Fadoju(JP)
Ayekooto 🦜 🦜 🦜 writes from Voice of the Voiceless (VoV) of Jubilee Projects and Justice for Peace, Nigeria (JP-JP, NIGERIA) & Justice for All(J4A).
