The trending news at the moment is the video of Godswill Akpabio, the President of the Senate, declaring that a token had been sent to the accounts of the senators to enjoy their holiday. The Senate President would later recant, saying instead that prayers have been sent to the Senators’ mailboxes to arrive safely to their destinations.
Even if Akpabio had encoded that ‘prayers are being sent to Senators’ mailboxes to arrive safely as they embark on holiday’, surely, Nigerians are not daft to the extent of not decoding that as money into their accounts. Substituting tokens into accounts with prayers to mailboxes has only further exposed him to more mockery and reproach; the whole thing is funny, the stuff of a comedy skit that Nigerians are only too familiar with. Nigerians are no fools.
Of course, the quick withdrawal of the statement could only suggest an attempt at illegality or the like; else why would the Senate President withdraw a statement that is not ordinarily offensive or obscene? So absurd.
It could be recalled that the Senate President trended in a ‘let the poor breath video ‘ which some have interpreted as mocking Nigerians’ current dire situation. This senate is increasingly presenting more like a mirage to the renewed hope mantra of the current administration.
Again, some have argued that there is no big deal in what transpired at the senate and that that the token referred to was the senators leave allowance. If true, what then could be the basis for withdrawal since the senators are entitled to it? Some arguments at times fail the ‘logic test’ on arrival. Imagine a country where myriad numbers of citizens have been pushed to the extreme poverty line and leaders are receiving tokens to enjoy holidays.
The Nigerian Economic Summit Group, NESG, projected that Nigeria’s unemployment rate will increase to 37 percent while the poverty headcount will amplify to 45 percent in 2023. Yet, while the palliative measures to cushion the effect of fuel subsidy are yet to reach the masses of the country, our parliamentarians are already enjoying tokens. Incredible!
Like many other Nigerians, I’m still very much optimistic about a better country; but if this tempo of jamboree and profligate spending lingers, the gown of our nightmare is likely to remain while tomorrow will always be on the run waiting for the future to come along.
• Usman Issa, [email protected]
