The implication of President Buhari’s promise to Nigerians that the current economic challenge would soon come to an end is that the man knows that people are in dire straits. The figures are rather grim. Inflation is 17.1 per cent; unemployment-underemployment 26.06 million;  crude oil price less than 50 dollars per barrel; oil production declined from 2.11 million barrels per day by the end of the second quarter. These bad figures were not concocted, they came from National Bureau of Statistics.
Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun was frank in her analysis of the situation.
‘It’s the worst possible time for us. Are we confused? Absolutely not. How are we going to get ourselves out of this recession? One, we must make sure that we diversify our economy. There are too many of us relying on oil” she said.
Good as it sounds, we have heard that over the years. Virtually every regime pulls at that trigger to shoot down economic woes. But pulling at the trigger is not the same as firing. The facts as they tell on the people is that we are skidding down a dangerous economic alley. As usual the ordinary man is worst hit. Kerosene now goes for 300 per litre, if it is found. The usual rigmarole about price of Premium Motor Spirit has begun. Marketers say they want it to sell for 165 naira per liter from the already choking cost of 145. Many people I know have never dared fill their tanks since the new price regime. If any hike happens, they would simply abandon their cars and face the sky-high transport fares that would follow.
The price of foodstuff has hit the roofs, which was why a man slumped and died few days ago in Abakaliki, Ebonyi state when he was told the price of a tuber of yam. He simply collapsed out of shock and went to the great beyond in the process.
Some people said we ate our future. We did not save in the days of plenty, which is why scarcity has come to hunt us. We have no reserves to fall back on. Others say stringent  and archaic  tactics have brought  to this sorry pass.
But the President knows it hurts to be a Nigerian now. His party faces a challenge in Edo where governoship election would hold. He says better days are coming. We need patience to live to see that day. But we need more than patience. we need life.
The president is assailed by too many issues. The nation fights many battles. In the Niger Delta, there is a battle to keep oil production high even as prices slide down. The war against Boko Haram has not abated, not with the Chibok girls still in captivity. The town has grabbed world attention for wrong reasons. The President told us in Edo to be patient. we await his promise of good days. We hope to live to see the good days.
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Govt should be careful about exchange of Chibok girls
Alvan, much as the real ease of Chibok girls is desired by Nigerians, government should be careful about ‘exchange of ‘prisoners of war’ being touted by Boko Haram spokesman in the video under reference because it might be a ploy to hoodwink government into releasing their men in Nigeria’s custody;  on a smart game. Now that there are two leaders in charge of the insurgents, how will government know who really to negotiate with? I have reservations about the claim that, the aerial bombardment by Nigerian armed forces, was responsible for the death of some Chibok girls because such information would reveal possible location of the insurgents. That claim should be set aside. Application of intelligence gathering to trace the source of the video required now; to know which insurgents’ to negotiate with while the search for the girls continue under the current military strategies.
Lai Ashadele
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Do they want to return?
Now that one of the released Chibok girls is missing her Boko Haram husband how do you know that those still in captivity may not miss them when released?
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Aguiyi Ironsi, Fajuyi, lest we forget
In your article mentioned Maimalari and Ademulegun as those killed. You did not mention Unegbe  and Okoro. They were also killed.
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Awolowo was involved
Your article on Ironsi and Fajuyi was good but I need to add something to that historical journey you embarked upon. The first coup was actually initiated by Awolowo and co. When it failed they instigated the radical wing of the military led by Ifeajuna to stage a coup and hand power over to Awo. At the university College Ibadan there were such radical elements as Okigbo, Chukwumerije and others.
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Soldiers should have avoided politics
Fajuyi and others died defending a mere geographical expression. Ironsi was Igbo, Fajuyi was Yoruba but they both chose northerners to gourd them even when rumors of coup was rife, So why would the reactionaries not easily take them out. They should not have taken over government, they should have locked their soldiers in the barracks and told politicians to conduct elections because soldiers are not good in governance.
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on restructuring
why are southerners, especially Igbos calling for restructuring now that someone from the north is the president. why did they not do so when Jonathan was in power. That time there was no Biafra, No IPOBB. Why now? The people in the Niger Delta have resumed bombing pipelines all in a bid to bring down our patriotic president. People should work towards the unity of this nation. If the country breaks up, it will not do anybody any good.
Ibrahim, Abuja
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But the kind of appointments the President made when he came gave the impression of someone who has a northern agenda. How would people not call for restructuring, they will.
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