Let Nigerians Breathe

 

I was thinking this morning....  Last week Tuesday, the Nigeria Senate, after debating a motion against the proposed hike of electricity tariff by DISCOs, passed a resolution that will go down as one of the strangest in the annals of the hallowed Red Chamber. Amidst laughter, the Senators adopted a resolution tagged ‘Let the poor breathe.' Most people got angry with the joke being made of the plight of ordinary Nigerians.

It wasn't therefore surprising when 'Let the poor breathe' became the central theme of the NLC general protest last Wednesday. The message never really hit home until I received a mail from my Pension Fund Managers, IBTC. The mail started thus; Hello Esteemed Client, Put your hand on your chest and repeat after me: “My salary and income will breathe; bills will not suffocate them."

I thought it was funny, until I drove my SUV to the petrol station. The fuel gauge was at quarter tank. I asked them to fill the tank. When the pump stopped, I checked and it was reading N38,800. In my shock, I remembered the IBTC instructions, placed my hand on my chest and said "My salary and income will breathe; bills will not suffocate them."

Days later, I took my young wife shopping. I stood by while she negotiated with the 'Aboki' for five tubers of yam. When I heard the aboki say "walahi madam, the last price na N41,000," I quickly put my hand on my chest and said "My salary and income will breathe; bills will not suffocate them."

I was still wondering how Nigerians were surviving the economic suffocation when I saw the headline of President Bola Tinubu asking the Nigerian Senate to approve military action against the Niger Republic coupists. While thanking God that the Senate rejected the request, I wondered why a country that don't have enough money to run our economy is planning on fighting a proxy war in our own backyard.

2nd Timothy 3:1 had warned us, 'This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.' At times like this, I enjoin you to put your hand on your chest and repeat after me "My family and I will breathe; Nigeria will not suffocate us."

Stay hopeful. God's got our back.

Happy Sunday!

......Just the thoughts of a certain Wey Mey