Sometimes, I sit back and wonder what the true purpose of government is. Is it meant to frustrate the efforts of its citizens or to make life better for them? A government is supposed to protect, provide, and ensure the well-being of its people. But what we are experiencing today is the opposite. It is painful to see how insensitive those in power have become to the cries and struggles of ordinary citizens. How long are we expected to endure this kind of hardship and still hope that things will somehow work out for everyone?
Ever since this present administration came into power a little over two years ago, everything seems to have turned upside down. The economy is in shambles, the financial strength of the people has weakened, and the health of the nation is deteriorating daily. The cost of living keeps rising like the blood pressure of a hypertensive patient. Prices of food, transport, and other basic needs have gone beyond the reach of the common man. Honestly, I keep asking myself, do we deserve this kind of treatment from our own government?
When you look at the current situation, what else can we call it if not a form of dictatorship? A true government should make the welfare of its citizens its top priority. Unfortunately, in our country today, those in government seem more interested in increasing their own comfort rather than easing the suffering of the masses. It is shocking how a government can be so cruel and insensitive, all in the name of policy reform.
Barely a month after assuming office, the president announced the removal of fuel subsidy. Before we could recover from that, he also decided to float the naira, and ever since, our currency has lost almost all its value. Many of us hoped for a government that would take bold and thoughtful decisions to fix the nation, but instead, what we got was a series of harsh policies that made everything worse.
Now, the government talks about increasing the minimum wage, but of what use is that when the prices of goods and services keep going up every single day? It feels like taking one step forward and ten steps backwards. The money we earn now can’t even last a month; transportation alone swallows most of it before we think of feeding or rent.
What hurts more is that the same people in power today once criticized previous administrations for doing far less. The former president, at least, listened to the people when there was public outcry. But now, we have a leader who hears but refuses to listen, a leader who claims he understands our pain but insists there’s nothing he can do about it.
Every day, the hardship deepens. People can barely afford food, and businesses are closing down. Yet, when citizens try to speak up or protest peacefully, they are threatened with arrest. It’s like our voices no longer matter. But deep down, I still believe we can’t continue like this forever. One day, we must rise and demand what is right. After all, a government that ignores its people has already failed its purpose.