It is no longer a surprise that the economic situation in this country has continuously nosedived over the past few years since some people took over power. Although it all began with the removal of the petrol subsidy by then-president Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, prices of food began skyrocketing, house rent soared, and transportation became uneasy for the average person. We thought we had seen the worst until the new administration took over power. Then it dawned on most of us that we were in for a long ride.
Nigeria’s situation is like someone with underlying health issues being hit with a viral infection. One doesn’t need a soothsayer to foresee disaster in such a situation, yet our leaders behave as if all is well.
Sometimes I wonder if these leaders are actually the ones running this country or if they are taking orders from some non-state actors hiding in the shadows. It’s hard to believe that a country full of both human and natural resources like ours struggles with basic amenities such as electricity, potable water, and food. God has blessed us so much that even if we were isolated from the rest of the planet, we could still survive on our own.
We have the strength to work and the talent to create. Who else can be more resilient in spirit than the average Nigerian youth? Yet, many are working like elephants but feeding like insects. As a popular Afrobeat singer once asked, “God I beg o, who go help o?” I’m clueless about who will save this nation from this mess.
Many of our youths now believe that nothing can be better for them except to “japa,” meaning to leave the country by all means. Is this how we will be forever?
Instead of our leaders tackling the various challenges this country faces, they decided to change our national anthem back to the old one, believing it will change people’s mindset and make them more patriotic. As if there has been any element of patriotism in themselves. People are hungry, students can no longer afford their school fees, those who used to eat three times a day now hardly get to eat once, and sick people are dying in hospitals across the nation due to their inability to afford hospital bills. On top of that, insecurity has become the order of the day. Farmers can no longer go to their farms for fear of bandit attacks, and kidnapping has become a lucrative business for those desperate for survival. Recently, a woman was caught trying to sell one of her children for a token of money just to feed the others due to this man-made poverty. Who has bewitched us? Who will save us from this deadly enchantment?
Some believe prayer is the solution, which I do not disagree with, but what comes after prayer? A country that will thrive in progress and prosperity must be able to protect its citizens, provide basic amenities, invest in education, improve the healthcare system, and give every citizen a sense of belonging. That is the only way the spirit of patriotism can thrive among Nigerians, not by changing the national anthem.
Before I conclude this rant, I want to admonish the youths of this country to wake up to their responsibility. It is obvious that without the youths standing up to say enough is enough to all that is happening in this country, nothing will change for the better. Don’t just sit behind your computers thinking that all that is happening is none of your business, as long as you are making money in dollars with a click of a button.
Remember how Twitter was once banned by these leaders, remember Binance, remember Bitcoin. Very soon, they will say social media among the youth is the problem and they will ban it too. If that happens, I wonder how content creators and influencers will make money. We all know that these platforms have been safe havens for many jobless graduates and side hustlers. Don’t rely on VPNs; they won’t serve you for long. We need those who understand civilization to be at the helm of affairs. We are tired of this old-school pot-bellied gerontocracy.
Finally, now that we, the youths, have agreed that we are on our own, I want to share with you some of my knowledge about online money-making, starting with the current trend of crypto currencies and airdrops. In my subsequent posts, I will particularly target students, sharing different money-making ideas and opportunities to help you attain a level of financial freedom in 2024 and beyond. So, stay tuned and watch out for my next post.
Peace out!
