Recalibration

As a teenager, I harbored several aspirations. Among them, by the age of 30, I aimed to own a personal house, car, and be married. I successfully achieved two out of the three. At 30, I purchased my first car. Whether this milestone constitutes an achievement remains debatable. While a significant percentage of youths in their thirties have already completed their houses and acquired second or third cars, millions still struggle to secure employment, let alone buy a car. Thus, I found myself among the fortunate “lazy Nigerian youths.”

My first vehicle was a Toyota Camry – affectionately called the “Pencil” – painted in a vibrant green hue reminiscent of the Nigerian flag. To further emphasize this patriotic connection, I added a white stripe down the middle, creating a visual representation of “green-white-green.” Prior to owning this car, my driving experience was limited to theoretical knowledge of basic vehicle functions. However, the Camry became my practical driving instructor. Despite enduring a fair share of bumps and scrapes, it soldiered on reliably. Truly, a rugged companion!

Yet, my true trial by fire occurred during a routine trip from Lagos to Osogbo. As the car’s temperature gauge climbed, I sensed trouble. My novice friend, seated in the front passenger seat, noticed steam emanating from the hood. He advised us to pull over and investigate. Upon lifting the bonnet, we were met with an overheated radiator. In a moment of ill-advised bravery, my friend attempted to remove the radiator cap, only to be met with an explosive burst of steam. After soothing his singed face, I resorted to pouring a bottle of table water into the radiator, sealing it, and resuming our journey. Alas, within minutes, the car sputtered to a complete stop. It dawned on me painfully that when faced with an overheating engine, one must promptly switch off the ignition, allow the engine to cool, and seek assistance. Ignoring this protocol leads to engine failure – a lesson etched into my memory.

In retrospect, that Toyota Camry taught me more than just driving skills; it imparted valuable life lessons. And so, with gratitude for its resilience, I bid farewell to my trusty green companion, forever mindful of the importance of recalibrating our expectations and learning from our missteps.

Nigeria currently stands at a critical juncture. The “EMILOKAN” spirit alone cannot mend the fractures plaguing our nation. Aspiring to occupy the presidential seat, while a lifelong ambition for many, does not inherently equip one with the expertise needed to govern effectively. Grace may elevate an individual, but sustained effort and practical knowledge are essential for maintaining that elevation. As the Yoruba adage wisely states, “Getting married is easy; staying married is the challenge.”

The current scorecard presented by the administration is disheartening. Kidnappings have reached alarming levels nationwide, inflation has surged beyond 29.9%, and the Naira continues its precipitous decline, crossing the N1,700-to-a-dollar threshold. Food insecurity persists, violence pervades our communities, and government policies lack coherence. Unemployment rates have soared, and the poverty index has hit record highs, all while a pervasive sense of disorder prevails.

The policies implemented by the federal government have further eroded the middle class, pushing many below the $1-per-day threshold. Although my residential area is colloquially referred to as an “Estate,” it lacks the opulence typically associated with such enclaves. Our local market witnesses housewives flaunting their cars, a stark contrast to the prices prevailing at Oja Oba and other traditional markets. Recently, I encountered a lady from our neighborhood who habitually displays her BENZ. However, during a chance encounter with my wife at Oja Oba market, she arrived inconspicuously, eschewing her luxury car. This disparity exemplifies how the gap between the affluent and the less fortunate widens, perpetuated by figures like Tinubu.

In Lagos, according to firsthand accounts, securing a decent flat in Yaba now demands a hefty sum – no less than N5 million. The exodus from the Island to the Mainland has driven this surge in demand. Meanwhile, the cost of living is on the upward rise, with essentials like a bag of rice now priced at #73,000, subject to hourly fluctuations.

As we navigate these tumultuous times, recalibrating our expectations and addressing systemic disparities becomes imperative. Only through concerted efforts can we bridge the chasm between prosperity and hardship, ensuring a more equitable future for all Nigerians.

A friend narrated how helpless she was at the fish market. She had paid for the first full pack of fish she was to resell at her shop.  By the time she got to her car, the need to get another bag of fish arose. By the time she got back to the fish store, the price had changed.

Mr President, you need to recalibrate.  You must desist from your adherence to World Bank and IMF neo-liberal prescriptions of making only the masses sacrifice for the economy to improve because that is exactly what you are doing by removing the fuel subsidy and putting the money into the hands of few Government officials at the Federal and the state levels whereas none of you buy fuel into your official vehicles or pay house rent.

I failed to recalibrate when my precious Pencil Camry overheated years ago and paid dearly for it. President Tinubu, what Nigeria needs now is an immediate recalibration. Nigeria is overheating from pressure and confusion that is ‘breaking bones everywhere you go. At the last count, more than 8 States had protested the sheer hunger that is ravaging us in the land. Abinitio, it’s insecurity and high cost of living that usually stare us in the face. The current day reality is acute hunger and inflated prices of common foods almost on an hourly basis.  we have started seeing pockets of demonstrations; the Sultan of Sokoto as well as other eminent Nigerians are speaking out; NLC and TUC are poised for a showdown as workers and poor people are finding it difficult to breathe. Even the price of beer we use to cool temper in the evening is on the increase again!  But we can’t blame Nigeria and International  Breweries as prices of fuel and other materials used have added to the cost of production. If this pathetic development is not brought to a halt on time, ‘I am sorry for all of us’, in Lagbaja,  Omo Baba muko muko’s voice.