Knees On Our Necks

 

The mode activated on the streets is “Hustle” as Nigerians continue to strive to survive and try to recoup what they can in the wake of the total lift of the lockdown as life tries to return to a new normal.

Every thing has changed, like it or not. With majority having scheduled for the much anticipated year with identical double digits, 2020, the Coronavirus pandemic took the winds out of our sails and left the world literally shipwrecked and down on its knees.

It took some of our bests, finest and the least likely expected to die. It has humbled us and taught us to reevaluate and focus on the things that matter.

Coronavirus rocked the world and Nigeria is no exception. But Nigerians are resilient and, in spite of the money politics played and still being played using the corona excuse, Nigerians are pulling through.

We have lost so many along the way but the die-hard spirit is the strength of a Nigerian And also the sad reasons why Nigerians are burden-bearers who try to stay happy inspite of our personal and collective struggles.

The price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) began to oscillate in the past few months. At the height of the lockdown of borders, the price of PMS went down to N121. Dare we jubilate? Was it because our buyers, like us, are on lockdown and barrels are just floating aimlessly on our territorial waters?

But before we could blink or find out, in July, petrol became N143 per litre, increased to N150 per litre in August. By September, we were ushered into the ninth month with PMS pump price at N162 per litre.

So we could absorb the shock once and for all, there was also announced, an increase on electricity tariffs on a basic amenity we barely enjoy.

Now people are challenging each other on why there were hardly any protests. I see sadness and brokenness of spirit in many Nigerians. Citizens are just tired.
For example an attempt to protest the fuel hike, last week Thursday, in Lagos was stamped out by the Nigeria Police even before it was fully in gear. They dispersed the protesters and worse still arrested journalists who came to cover the protest. Are they not Nigerians? Not affected? Aren’t they just supposed to be around to monitor protesters?

Sadly, we are stifled from protesting and registering our angsts against the hike. At a time when the world is slowly getting up and nations across the world are assisting their citizens to find their feet after a raw deal with the pandemic, our own leadership has their knees on our necks.

Remember George Floyd? That one death that defied the pandemic and reverberated across the world? The one that shook the United States and exposed its underbelly to the world?
That one death that shook humanity to its foundations?

It was an unusual death where a man’s life was snuffed out when a fellow man, Derek Chauvin, knelt on Floyd’s neck till life was snuffed out of him?

It is sadly metaphorical of the current Nigerian experience. Nigerians are hustlers. Hard workers. With great content and ability to continue to create innovations and inventions borne out of necessity.

But leadership problems are killing raw talents and great efforts. For example, the influx of okada riding is a sign of poverty and hustle for survival. Many riders have professions but the continuous frustration of electricity has taken many to the streets, often obtaining the bike via hire purchase. Graduates in hustle to survive are not left out in the race.

With the increased fuel pump and increased electricity tariffs, it bounces back on the citizens.

Knees on our necks.
Increased food prices. Increase in transport fares across all means.
Increase in commodity prices.
Increase in school fees.
Unpaid minimum wage.
Non increment of salaries.

Knees on our necks.
Transferred aggression, increased domestic violence, increased murders, increased ritual rape and killings to assist diabolical means of getting money.

Knees on our necks.
As it is, Nigerians are choking under these heavy burdens and, added with the fact that we cannot even speak or engage the government on how we feel…

We truly cannot breathe…