Reflections Without Mirror: The parable of the squirrels. Niyi Aborisade
The days when squirrels have enough to eat; the days when squirrels slept with hunger are manifestly excessive than when it has enough to eat. ( Ojo riri je Okere; Ojo ti Okere ba ebi sun lo po ju aayo lo)
Whatever might have informed our forefathers to coin the sayings must have been through diligent observations about the diurnal behaviour of squirrels and its sufferings that borders on lack of adequate supply of foods to eat.
However, despite the sufferings, squirrels never ceased to exist, and their numbers are not reduced save as to their death from poaching by humans and migrations to where they can find food. It shows the untiring endurance of squirrels and their ability to survive under extreme conditions. Squirrels are good in breedings for survival, irrespective of conditions.
May I quickly point out that the above saying by our forefathers is limited to the squirrels of Nigeria or Africa because the squirrels in the United Kingdom lives in opulence, they enjoyed freedom of movement and have even changed their diets to include Macdonalds and Burgers. They are far bigger than our squirrels, they enjoyed the luxury of many trees and even good roads since they are allowed to walk about on the streets unmolested by anybody. There are no poachers to even reduce their numbers. They enjoy rights like humans.
The current situation of Nigerian people is synonymous to the proverbial squirrels situation that informed our forbears to coin their sayings. The days when the majority of Nigerians slept with hunger are manifestly excessive than the days they have food to eat.
That Nigeria gained independence in 1960, is nothing new to anyone, but how have the citizens been faring since then, our population are increasing in poverty and harsh conditions.
The Western Nigerians were privileged at independence to come under the government of Chief Obafemi Awolowo. The civil servants in the Western Region were receiving higher wages than even their counterparts in the Federal Government and other regions. Free education was introduced, which accounted for the educational advantage over the rest of the region.
The Civil Servants also enjoyed under Gowon, particularly during the Udoji award in 1973. Udoji awards included civil service reforms, an increase in salaries of workers, civil servant training, administrative structure reforms, and the introduction of goal oriented management. Assemblies of Vehicles like Volkwagen kicked off in 1975, and they started producing 60 cars in a day. Those were the few days we could say our proverbial squirrels were bellyful.
There was a bacon of hope during the shortlived Murtala regime of 1975 to February 1976. He introduced great reform, and our foreign exchange rates was at its best. Nigerian Naira was better than the dollar even until the time of former president Obasanjo
The rest is history. The current situation in Nigeria called for a serious evaluation of a policy that is not working. The government of President Ahmed Bola Tinubu has brought untold hardship and misery to the country. A call for endurance in the face of abject poverty is not a panacea for the unprecedented increase in fuel price. He may have good intentions by removing the subidy, but the hardship that follows is unprecedented. Apart from astronomical increase on transport fare, many people have to abandon their vehicles at home and returned to the olden days of trekking to a long distance, those who are powering the economy that relies on Diesel to power the generators are not finding it easy. The erractic power supply or lack of it at all means that they still have to rely on their diesel power generator to carry out their business. The result is increament on everything, it has never been bad like this and it is clear that the end to the hardship is not in sight unless president Tinubu comes up with a drastic solution to alleviate the sufferings.
The government has turned Nigerians into beggars with the lopsided palliatiaves, and when you see our people fighting, pushing and trampling on each other to grab something for themselves and their children, you can not but pity our people. It is the terrible hunger that is beyond comprehension behind their ordeal. It is a sad spectacle to see adults and children struggling to have share of the little package called ‘palliative’. Something that can not last them 2 days. We are now a laughing stock in Africa. The big Nigerians are now beggars in their own country. What a bad policy.
One dollar is now equivalent to 1000 Naira, and £1 is almost 1300 naira. The parallel foreign exchange is driving the exchange rates higher than anything we have witnessed before. The policy that indirectly handed over power to the black marketers to determine the exchange rate is not well thought of. It will be a deception for anyone to think that the market will regulate itself and that Naira will appreciate soon.
The best brains in Nigeria are now migrating abroad in search of greener pastures, just like the squirrels are migrating in search of food. One governor from the Eastern state was even promising to secure four thousand jobs abroad for the indigenes of the state. The hope of the people in the new government is fast disappearing. Why not provide them with local jobs so that our best brains will remain in the country and develop the country. Check out the price of air tickets to the UK and America as of today, Virgini Atlantic and British Airways, are charging as much as 3 million Naira each for economy tickets. It has never happened in our history. Those who have children studying abroad are the worse hit of foreign exchange matters. Tokunbo vehicles are now untouchable. Why should we pretend that all is well when all is not well.
How long shall we keep enduring while the leaders are feeding fat on the resources of the country. Can the leaders not cut their salaries and allowances as part of their own sacrifice as well. Why is it the poor that should make sacrifice all the time. ‘ Monkey dey work Baboon dey chop am’
For the first time in our history, we have 48 ministers in the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu , yet we know that the situation in the country calls for a reduction in number of government officials and spending cut is a must at this time.
The government under President Tinubu should reform his policy, the current policy is not working, and it must be discarded. President Bola Tinubu should not prolong the days when ‘squirrels ‘ have to go to bed with hunger. A total reform is needed. I salute the untiring endurance of Nigerians, particularly at this trying period, but there is a limit to human endurance, there is a need for a change of policy. I have spoken.
Niyi Aborisade is a lawyer, Human Rights Activist and a historian
