EDITORIAL
MASSES have been under lockdown without relief packages. Many families both the old and young are in utter anguish over hunger following the lockdown put in place to checkmate the spread of the dreaded coronavirus pandemic. Many of the breadwinners in those families are extremely affected by the precautionary measure of lockdown as they are mostly daily income earners. Hence, it is possible many don’t have savings in any bank and without borrowing capacity.
On the other hand, public officeholders are more or less on leave with remunerations and even relief packages allocated to them. The lawmakers in the National Assembly in particular are merely on holidays with all outrageous allowances intact. Yet, they can easily recite Section 14 (2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution, Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended which provides “security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government”.
The weeping of the vulnerable masses must not continue in perpetuity. Section 33 CFRN provides that everyone has a right to life. The question begging for answers is how the government expects to put people under lockdown without any relief packages in reality, and expects them to live. The suffering the masses are subjected to in the lockdown cannot be overemphasized. No doubt, the lockdown as a precautionary measure was sensible but its extensions do more harm than good.
The Senate President, Senator Ahmed Ibrahim Lawan and Speaker, House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila owe the masses explanation on why the outrageous allowances in the two chambers must continue even when masses find it difficult to have a meal in a day. These masses must not be pushed to match and close down the chambers out of frustrations. Their weeping and dirge are becoming intolerable. Nigeria’s democracy is far away from its meaning as a ‘government … for the people’. Let the needful be done.
Of course, the state governors are also involved. The leadership style of a lot of governors are more of commandos. The primary purpose of government is security and welfare of the people, and not intimidation, aimless shows or personal aggrandizement. A situation where citizens are crying of hunger but ignored by public officeholders is extremely hurting.
It’s obvious the country is deficient of true leaders but abundant of politicians. The Covid-19 pandemic exposed the system completely that the country, Nigeria is far away from its people. Or to put it straightforward, the leadership class has no business with the led or masses. Everyone is on his own. Indeed, this is abysmal failure of the leadership of the country from independence to date. They indeed scammed the country.
It is disgusting that the government continues to pile up reports on relief materials and palliatives distributed to the people while the people are moving in empty stomachs. Not even ordinary facemasks were provided for the masses. There is fire on the mountain. President Muhammadu Buhari, Senator Lawan, Hon Gbajabiamila should take note. A stitch in time saves nine. This is not time for political propaganda.
In Lagos for example, some of these frustrated youths have formed a deadly group known as ‘Million boys” that visit neighbourhoods at nights and rob from house to house. It has reached a stage that residents can’t relax in their homes at night but forced to form vigilante groups to counter the boys. The worst part is that so many responsible young guys are being compelled by circumstances to join the bad groups. Government should take note that it is not sufficient to empower and use Police against them but to brainstorm towards improving the lives of the common people.