THE DEARTH OF CASH AND THE DEATH OF NIGERIA

THE DEARTH OF CASH AND THE DEATH OF NIGERIA 

As a country, our problems are multifaceted, but they are mostly self-inflicted. They are largely caused by bad leadership, bad policies, and bad governance. Complementing these factors and equally important are the selfishness and greed of an average Nigerian. 

Nigeria is a cow milk that everyone wants to milk dry. It is an ocean that everyone approaches for water but care less about its source(s). Nigeria is a proverbial pot that laid the golden eggs which everyone scrambles for. We're society of greedy and selfish beings. 

Neither the leaders nor the followers seem to care about this country called Nigeria. Everyone just wants to 'cash-in'. The bestiality in us has been brought to the fore with this hullabaloo brought about by the naira redesign policy. The Naira redesign policy further attested to my earlier thesis about President Buhari as a One-Way Man, and of course, which is a disservice to millions of Nigerians. 

In the Prince, Machiavelli was reputed to have said that there are three kinds of intelligence that corresponds to the three types of men and leaders we have in the world. One, there are leaders who cannot think, and when you think for them, they don't know whether it is good or bad. Two, there are leaders who cannot think, but when you think for them, they don't know whether it is good or bad. Finally, there are leaders who can think on their own and when you think for them, they know whether it is good or bad. 

One quality of a good leader is ability to look at issues from its pros and cons, merits and the demerits, positive and negative sides before making informed decisions. Unfortunately, PMB seems to be lacking the capacity to engage in such thoughtful thoughts. To worsen the matter, the President failed to surround himself with the right people but fifth columnists, and so bad policies and selfish policies have become commonplace of this regime. 

How on earth will a President consented to change of naira at the close of his administration, all in the name of fighting corruption and preventing votes buying? It is so unfortunate, and can only happen when such a leader only thinks like a child. Yeah, it is only children that mostly see the positive side of issues without considering the negative implications. 

Unfortunately, the Nigeria state is dying and yet the President appears not to be bathing the eyelids. People are queueing for several hours in banks to get cash to spend. People are slumping and dying in attempt to get cash. Banks properties and staff at risk of arson. The economy of the country is in comatose, yet the President appears to be unawares. What a President!

Revolution don't just happen. It happened when people are pushed to the wall. It happened when leaders became negligent and selfish. It happened when people means of livelihood are taken away from them. It happened when survival of the people are threatened. It happened when abnormalities became a common place like using naira to trade naira. It happened when people die needlessly. It happened when society careless about values. It happened when there is no value for life. It happened when personal interests supersede communal interests. 

These are not the best of times for Nigeria. These are dangerous moments that leaders at different level must rise to stem the tide. These are times that those who meant well for this country must rise to fight against our common enemies. These are times when caution must be made not to explode the keg of gunpowder that is waiting to be exploded. Otherwise, the dearth of cash may lead to the death of Nigeria. 

Election is just a phase in a nation life which will come and go, so those who want to burn the country down should be think twice. If they don't, there may never be a country called Nigeria. I wished men will learn from history, but men hardly learn. I'm afraid the ghost of 1983 and 1993 may be on the lurk ravaging this entity called Nigeria. While there may be spiritual dimension to this, it is time for men to do their own part to avoid self-destruction. 

My Recommendations

First, there is need for the resolution of this naira debacles. To achieve this, some immediate steps need to be taken, one of which is for the CBN to come out clean and clear to Nigerians that there is no deadline to the returned of the old naira, or at least follow what the law says. Secondly, the bank should be allowed to issue out the old notes pending the printing and circulation of sufficient new notes across the country. Thirdly, the security agency may need to beam their search lights on the saboteurs of the policy too. 

Furthermore, there is need for the postponement of the election. Yes, you heard me clearly. For the economy and the polity to normalize back, it will take another three weeks to one month, and of which by that time the election would have been held. Holding an election in time of self-induced great national crisis like we found ourselves is a joke taking far, which will lead to electoral violence and create political uncertainty. 

In the long run, there is need for the reorientation of our orientation and 'reculturalization' of our culture. Without that, we will continue to see a situation where leaders used their positions and offices for self-aggrandizement and parochialism in the same everyone on the street looks for every available opportunity to better their lots at the expense of the State. 

#AJS is a Social Commentator and Policy Analyst.

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