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Once Upon A Time

Once upon a time, my salary was five hundred naira a month, and I lived on it comfortably. I had a car which I fuelled and serviced out of my salary. I drove the car to work everyday and also used it during the weekends. I travelled with it. It served me well. Once upon a time, the exchange rate between naira and dollar favoured the naira. Once upon a time, I could cook a pot of stew that would last me a week with only one naira. Once upon a time, Nigeria was a peaceful country and we did not have to worry about bandits, kidnappers, armed robbers and nonchalant politicians.

Once upon a time too, we had long queues to buy ‘essential commodities’ like rice, sugar, milk etc. We had price control. We had the middle class completely eroded and we were left with the poor and the rich. Once upon a time, we had war that left many displaced in body and mind, hungry and hopeless. Once upon a time, we had firing squads at the Bar Beach. We had coups and counter coups.

Once upon a time.

Many of us were not around to witness some of the things I mentioned. We have only heard stories. Stories our elders told. Stories that were sometimes one-sided, biased and unapologetic. Some of us grew up not knowing what democracy felt like, when all we knew was military rule and the era of decrees. Many are growing up now, not knowing what that felt like, only familiar with voting, human rights and proposing bills in the various houses of assembly.

Once upon a time, Nigeria was sweet. Then it became sour and when the sweetness came back, it was not like the initial sweetness, because some of the sourness remained to dampen it. Now we are in bitter times again. We have been in a state of war, although we refuse to acknowledge it. People are displaced, children are kidnapped, killed, abused. Poverty has increased and unemployment besieges the economy. All is not well everywhere.

Yet, people wake up and go to work. The markets are open. Churches are open. Humans are moving like robots and the sun rises and sets each day. Where are the people with seeing eyes and hearing ears? There is trouble in the land. It is a keg of gunpowder waiting for the slightest spark to explode. Where are you? What are you doing?

There is a saying that the war does not kill a wise cripple. Why? Long before the war starts, at the slightest rumour of war, the cripple begins the journey of escape, because he knows his challenges will slow him down. You only need tell a good child half a word, by the time he hears it, it becomes the whole truth. It is not from my mouth they will hear that the teacher’s mother died. Does anyone have a solution to our current issues in Nigeria? Let the town mouse tell the country mouse.

I have set watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem;
They shall
f]never hold their peace day or night.
You who 
[g]make mention of the Lord, do not keep silent. Isaiah 62:6 NKJV

Let everyone lift up their voices to God at this time. We must all become intercessors for this nation. And in addition to that, let us raise our voices to those who will hear in Government; all is not well in the land. If they (Government) are deceived, we, the people are not. A stitch in time saves nine. Let us douse this fire before it becomes a raging inferno!

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