By Helen Ovbiagele

This year’s Christmas celebration is among the unique ones in that it falls on a Sunday, so we’re celebrating the gift of  a Saviour and  also observing a day ordained by God for rest and reflection.

Combine the two and we have a double season of goodwill towards our fellow human beings.

As we mark Christmas today, it’s important, amidst the merry-making to make time for some sober reflection on the state of our beloved nation, Nigeria.

How much goodwill exists in the country?  Most of the founding fathers of  our country as an independent state have passed on.  Were their dreams realized?  No?  Did they depart in a satisfied and happy frame of mind?  No.  How sad!

From a nation that had a lot of potentials for good development, and which commanded much respect in the sub-region and globally,  we’ve become an unsafe nation noted for greed, selfishness, thievery at all levels, and all sorts of criminal activities.

At most international airports throughout the world, including fellow African ones, Nigerians are regarded with suspicion and singled out for disgraceful treatment.  We accept all this meekly because we’re desperate to be in those countries.  It’s like anywhere else is better than our country.  Yet, other nationals come interact with us for a better life, feeling that they can make it here. And in many cases, they do.

So, what is wrong with us?    Our main problem is governance at all levels that is not human-friendly.

If our rulers are human-friendly and have much regard for the human life, they would all do meaningful things to improve our lives.  When I say rulers, I’m not talking about those who head governments (state, local and federal) only.  I’m talking about anyone who heads a government position in a decision-making capacity.  Everyone whose decisions affect our general welfare.

What we’re having right now are a bunch of people desperate to be given power; either through election or appointment.  There’s nothing wrong with this if the motive for wanting these positions is to give efficient services to the  nation and its people, and bring about changes which will impact positively on our lives, and make us believe we belong here.   A few of them may actually start out with the intention of effecting worthy changes, but soon they abandon this in pursuit of personal gains.

Let’s take the issue of roads for example.   Compared to the size of Nigeria, very few roads are in good condition in the country.  Both the electronic and print media had to cry themselves hoarse through three administrations before any meaningful work began on the Lagos/Benin road.  Some good work is going on there at present, and hopefully, those travelling on that road home for the Christmas celebrations, may actually be able to do that without having to pass the night in the bush.

Roads around me where I live are very bad and many vehicles have been damaged.  Some days ago, a few of us, a la wall of Jerusalem pattern, decided to fill in the potholes in front of our houses, just so that the bumps could be reduced.  We have no government pipe-borne water and we had to sink wells and boreholes in order to have water.  Electricity supply is epileptic and most times on low current.  Dustbins are overflowing with garbage as we wait week-in week-out, for the government refuse collecting vehicle to come.

Most times I don’t feel that there’s anyone in authority who really cares about my welfare.  Yet, where I live falls under a ward, under a local government, under a state house of assembly member, under a House of Rep member, under a Senator, under a governor, and under a president.  This is the state of every citizen of this country right down to the grassroots.

What about healthcare?  Even the man of the street saves up to go have medical attention in India.  Our rulers and their families, of course, wouldn’t dare avail themselves of the medical care they provide for the country.

What area of our lives here can we regard with satisfaction and give praise to our rulers?

Throughout this year the price of refilling the 12.5kg cylinder of cooking gas had hovered between 2,500 naira and 2,800 naira.  Then towards the end of November it jumped up to 3,300 naira!  I asked the man who runs the depot what was responsible for the price hike and he told me to go ask the government.

“Madam, I don’t know o.  Only the government can tell you what’s responsible.  We’re not pleased to add five hundred naira at a go, but what can we do?  We have overheads to meet, and we have to find a way of coping, if we’re to continue in the business.  Look at my workers, madam.  Everyone of them needs his/her job, and I have to pay them at the end of the month.  The Bible says we’re not to withhold the salaries of our workers for any purpose.  If we didn’t increase our prices, we won’t be able to pay them.

Madam, if you ask me, I don’t think that all these people ruling us know what they are doing o!  They’ve lost touch with those they’re ruling.  If you have an extra cylinder, I advise you come fill it now because the price of gas may still climb up.  Kerosene now sells for 140 per litre at some filling stations!  Everything is wahala in this country.  Na wao!”

I had to tune out and leave, as the man’s complaints seemed endless.  I couldn’t blame him though.  Although his lot is better than millions of Nigerians because he runs a thriving business and is an employer of labour, he still feels the pinch.  We’re an oil and gas producing country, and we do own four or five refineries, yet we have to import petroleum products at exorbitant costs from overseas.  No government has yet been able to make us self-sufficient in our needs there.  I’m always puzzled when I read that there’s fuel scarcity in Warri.  Isn’t there a refinery there?

Now, a battle is looming over the threat to remove oil subsidy.  There was talk some years ago about licences  being issued for the establishment of private refineries.  What became of that?    It was only recently I read that a private refinery owned by  Niger Delta Petroleum Resources Ltd has begun operation in Ahoada East Local Govt. of  Rivers State. It was reported that the refinery which had an initial capacity of 1,000 barrels a day now produces 120,000 litres of diesel per day, using crude oil from the company’s Ogbele flow-station.  This is welcome news for the relief we expect it to bring to the supply and cost of diesel, and also for job creation.  Let’s hope that this venture will be allowed to prosper, and will lead to other refineries being established.

I hope our rulers, as they celebrate this Christmas, search their conscience about how much goodwill towards the ruled,  and accountability they bring to bear on their service to the nation.

A MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL READERS OF THIS COLUMN.