I attended an event sometime back and one big man was given the microphone to give a goodwill message.
He started by recognising everyone recognisable from a very long protocol list then at the end of it, pleaded to stand on already established protocol for want of time.
He went into his message proper, said he didn’t have much to say, took maybe up to 20 minutes to deliver his very short message and then rounded off by saying he was stopping at that point for want of time and so that he doesn’t become a bore.
Today, I also do not have much to say to esteemed readers’ of this column and Nigerians but to wish you all a Merry Christmas so I’ll also keep it short while I share my thoughts with you all.
Christmas, for those who are Christians and believe in it as one of the events on the cycle of events leading to the redemption of mankind is a time to celebrate, be merry and share with the needy.
It is the time people travel from different places to be with their families and celebrate the joy and reason for the season.
Even for those who are not Christians, the Christmas holiday presents an opportunity to take vacations let their hair down, unwind, and do whatever else that helps them destress after a long year of working.
While I wish that everyone in Nigeria has a Merry Christmas, I’ve been wondering how the families of the over 20 Tiv farmers who were killed in Awe, Lafia and Obi local government areas of Nasarawa State and the over 5,000 displaced members of the 12 affected communities are going to be able to have a Merry Christmas.
The killings in parts of Kaduna State have not abated. A few days back, bandits killed people in Chikun, Zangon Kataf, Birnin Gwari, Igabi and Kauru local government areas. Will the families of victims be able to have a Merry Christmas while mourning their dead even as they live in fear for their own lives?
I’ve been thinking about victims of banditry and terrorism across the country and how this Christmas will turn out merry for them when they do not have access to their homes or any basic amenities for decent living.
The families and loved ones left behind by the travellers that were burnt in a bus in Sokoto State have been in my thoughts.
I’ve been thinking of the thousands of people in various Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps around the country and how people who they may not see again till another Christmas will visit the camps on Christmas Day, give them a few food items, pose with them for photographs and grant press interviews while they continue to languish in dehumanising conditions in the camps.
I’ve been thinking of the food inflation in the country and how poor families are going to be able to afford food and other supplies for a merry Christmas.
Even though data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) suggests that inflation has dropped for the seventh consecutive time to 15.4 percent, which should be a cause for celebration, can we really celebrate when the price of food keeps going up, defying knowledge of elementary economics?
Compared to March this year, inflation as at November had dropped by a total of 2.77 percent yet a 50kg bag of rice that was sold for about N22,000 at that time is now between N26,000 and N28,000, a loaf of bread that was N500 is now between N600 and N700, a pack of sachet water that was between N120 and N150 is now between N250 and N300 and so for many other food stuff.
Never mind that the inflation is still double-digit. That is an entirely different kettle of fish.
I’ve been thinking of the high level of insecurity in the country, the high crime rate, cases of kidnapping for ransom and rituals and how people are going to be able to travel to be with their loved ones this yuletide in spite all these.
The Abuja-Kaduna road has become the playground of bandits and kidnappers where they operate unhindered, sometimes for days in a row as was witnessed a few weeks back. Are travellers to the North East and North West parts of the country going to have safe passage on the road?
The DSS reported the other day that it had arrested over 30 suspected kidnappers/cannibals in Orsu local government of Imo State and Uli in Ihiala local government of Anambra State and rescued a traditional ruler. During the raid, many dead bodies, decapitated heads and roasted bodies were uncovered in the deserted communities.
I’ve also been wondering if sons and daughters of those communities will be able to return home to spend Christmas there.
I promised to keep it short so let me not be like the big man at the event I attended.
I wish you all a Merry Christmas devoid of any untoward incidents.
