“It is getting to a level that traditional leaders could no longer pacify the people from revolting against government and political leaders that are supposed to find solutions to their lingering socio-economic plight…”- Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar.
“If we cast a cursory glance at the present state of our nation, we are inclined to conclude that this seems to be the worst of times for our country in the areas of security and the economy…As a result of the government’s reform agenda, millions of Nigerians have been reduced to a life of grinding poverty, wanton suffering, and untold hardship as never before in our national history” – Bishop Lucius Ugorji, President of Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) (in picture below)
Nigerian leaders (economic, political, religious, etc) must wake up. Yet, I do posit that there is even “no hunger” in Nigeria at the moment. At least farmers farmed last year before the current acceleration of insecurity. Largely, no farming is going on now in Benue (the food basket of the nation), Nassarawa, etc. By November this year, Nigeria will experience severe economic turbulence since the harvest will be so low that food prices will hit new records, if our leaders FAIL to lead.
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Yes, this is the planting season and our leaders have a window to ensure that our soldiers are deployed into all farmlands so that farmers can farm!!! If we do not do just that, the “soldiers of hunger” will come with vengeance from November.
In ancestral Igbo, new yams are celebrated because the new harvest breaks the “unwu” [famine] period. That period is when yams have been planted but they are not yet ready to be harvested. Due to lack of storage facilities, there is always scarcity and “famine” because during “unwu”, yam is scarce.
But as August arrives, and the new yams are ready for harvest, communities celebrate because the “famine” is going to be over. That is the heart of the new yam festival which you might have read in Chinua Achebe’s books. The festival honours the earth goddess of wealth for bringing her fertility and increasing the wealth of the village.
On that context, imagine if there would not be harvest because the “yams” were not planted in March because of insecurity. Do you know the implications? Do not imagine that…for Nigeria!
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One of our problems as Nigerians is the way we pass messages to our pitiful managers. We seem to believe that by telling misfits and mediocres to do their jobs, they suddenly acquire capabilities to deliver. You simply cannot do what you cannot do.
Being hopeful is a right, but remember that it is not the despair that kills, but rather the hope…
What is written is written.