I was born into a banana country where money was never a problem. Things were cheap and avoidable. Citizens were happy and love for the country was real. I could remember vividly that when I was young I do hear from the Press Reports that my country was in the forefront of all countries in terms of being our brothers keeper and in seeing to the welfare of other countries that are in dire need of assistance and support. In fact , information had it then that our National Currency was better rated than United States Of America dollar. On Independence day , there would be Match Past of School Children from Primary Schools to Secondary Schools. We School Children then , Governments at all levels take a very good care of us separately by giving us special tin milks called Peak Milk free of charge. I coul recall that the milk is very rich . They always , I mean Governments at all levels , see to our welfares . Any sick pupils were always taking care free of charge in all Government hospitals , especially at dispensaries not far away from Primary Schools nationwide. Enjoyment galore .

Then , National Strike was a Taboo. The Labour Union at the centre never had any cause to call for strike. Everything was going on well. Nobody knows what a minimum wage was. Our Parents then go out in the morning and we knew then that they come back home safe and sound. We Children fight over our father's bag because we knew varieties of confectioneries always filled his bag ranging from Biscuits and Tom Tom. Money was never a problem. No body talk of school fees payments. Everything was free. Nobody ever talk of hike in petroleum prices. Do you even know petrol per litre ? It was never a problem. Transport fares remain the same for many months. Nobody ever talk of hike in transport fare. We go out and comeback safely with little money on our pockets. What a Nation then ? Everything was going on without any crisis. Water was flowing from the tap. Nobody finds out who was responsible for it. We were all focussed on our legitimate businesses then though I was a young boy then.

Economy of the country was never a problem. Financial sector never suffer any crisis. Food shortage was Never witnessed. Everybody eat three square meals per day in surplus not in deficit. We never witnessed any crisis with our farmers and herders. The two sets of people never had any cause to fight talkless of killing each other.We travel Round the country without threat to our lives. No issues of banditry and kidnapping. There was never any cause for terrorism in any part of the country. There were never agitations on who governs us , whether the person who governs us was from the North or south was never anybody's business in as long as people move about their legitimate business undisturbed. There was nothing like electricíty is not stable. I cannot think of the time we experienced electricíty failure. There was no report of breaking down of National Grid leading to incessant electricíty fluctuations.

However , things had changed here now. Changed for the worse . There's no disputing the fact that what's happening in the country today was never witnessed when I was young. Imagine experiencing astronomical rise in the prices of diesel , premium motor spirit ( petrol) , kerosine ,in this present day of the country without doubt this is a serious National crisis. By this astronomical rise , it has multiplier effects on the cost of transportation . Imagine a trip that used to cost less than $1 before is now more than $2. It has been very critical for a number of people to make personal trip to their loved ones. Public Servants are worse hit. They can't do without going to work . To carry out business trip from one place to another is not a joke is gruesome. One must also decry the hike in the price of Aviation fuel to more than ,$2 per litre leading to a sharp rise in flight Tickets to other parts of the world. How do we go about this ?

The collapse of the National Electricity Grid by 126 times in seven years culminating in erratic power supply in the country calls for concern. Many notable Industries are moving away from the country. The situation is better imagined than being described. It has led to rise in the prices of Industrial products. Ordinary detergent that used to cost $0.05 is now $0.80 and nobody knows when it would stop and I don't think it is in sight and possibly never in sight for now. Many workers are being laid off. The diesel that serves as fuel for Industries is out of reach. Per litre of diesel now is $2 , it was formerly $1. Things are extremely difficult for the Industrialists. They are groaning and bitterly complaining. Everyday markets are flooded with substandard products. Standard products are very expensive and out of reach of the ordinary people on the streets.

As a corollary to the above , Prices of basic food stuff had gone beyond the reach of the ordinary people. Staple foods such as rice , beans , cassava flakes are now slipping out the hands of Average People. What's giving me concern is that people are suppressing their anger in no small way and the truth is that Anger suppressed is more dangerous than anger expressed. When the bottled anger is let loosed no one is dared facing it talkless of curtailing it. The matter is made worse by massive killing of innocent farmers on their farmlands by herders. Herders would bring their cattle to feed on farmers plot of lands where live crops are planted. Who would open his eyes allow his things to get destroyed ? Nobody. The effect of this is attack on harmless farmers. Imagine , herders carry about Sophisticated Guns like AK-47 , Pump Action Guns whenever they go out with their cattle. This has brought untold hardships on the People. Foods are very scarce and expensive. Who would save Our Souls. I call on the International Community to come up with action plan to rescue us time and tide wait for no one. Let come to our aids , don't let us die totally. People are dying day in, day out.

Continued rise in exchange rate with foreign currency is alarming. All the major currencies of the world are extremely on the high side. What do we do about this ? The foreign goods are too expensive to touch. Highly expensive to bear.Illegality is thriving. No legitimate business brings much expected profits. But illegal businesses are seriously booming at the expense of genuine ones. Economic devastation occasioned by the activities of illegal Refiners , pipeline vandalism and crude oil theft in the country are booming and unchecked. The Rich ate getting Richer while the Poor are getting poorer. This is a serious case.

Our educational sector is in shambles. Strike today , strike tomorrow. Education is never stable. Students are being made to suffer untold hardships. A University course that supposed to be Four Sessions at most Five is being pushed to unknown number of sessions. The number of days students spend at home is by far more than the number of days to be used in school. Who would rescue us.?

This is just my observations. It was not meant to incite anybody against institution or somebody somewhere. We only need to come to together and find solutions to the issues on ground. I am not in support of violence and unwarranted protest which eventually would come to nothing. Dialogue always solve issues that war and protests can't solve. Let our representatives in all houses of Assembly and Parliaments reason along with us and forget mixing Politics with real issues. Doing that would make matters worse.

Another election is coming up. Let us elect competent people in to offices. This is highly important. Some people talk of quality leadership to tackle the challenges. Yes , it is true good leaders are needed There's no any other time to talk about this than now. Election gives opportunity to effect changes to leadership. The opportunity is at hand now , let us make use of it. We citizens of this banana Republic are crying miserably. Rescue us International Community.. Citizens , our destiny is in our own hands, let us make corrections where necessary. War can't settle it , free for all fight cannot settle it But wisdom. Majority would have their ways while minority would have their say. We are in the majority. Stop Wailing. Vote Wisely. Thanks for reading.

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