EDITORIAL: An Intriguing Week Ahead

We are up for an intriguing week ahead. This is not unconnected to the planned nationwide protests amidst the raging economic hardship and hunger. There is of course no doubting the fact that the current economic quagmire deserves an emergency solution. Perhaps the reason why the planned protests may not be wished away. However, there is a clause… 

A dislocation to an already dishevelled economy must be avoided. It will further complicate matters, and this cannot be the time for childish exuberance and saber-rattling by misguided spokespeople trying to justify their appointments.

In a heated atmosphere, the intervention of the Federal Information Minister is worthy of commendation.

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“So, there is no need for strike. The young people out there should listen to the President and allow the President more time to see to the realisation of all the goodies he has for them.” We are at a loss about how “ goodies “ came in here but the statement of the minister is more reassuring and sensible than the use of threats.

There must be a pause and reconciliation. There must also be the intellectual honesty to consider a change of direction and fine-tuning. At the moment the cost of living crisis is punitive and must be ameliorated by redirecting funds to the productive sectors and by going for bust on exports in order to revive the Naira as a dependable store of value.

To achieve an advance, those in authority must be more expansive and listen to the voices of those outside the corridors of power.  The government must use these intersections to wage a war against poverty and reverse the decline in living standards as the trajectory for sustainable development. In this way, the crisis will be turned into an opportunity.

We must avoid a dislocation.