Who bewitched us? This question hangs heavily in the air as Nigeria grapples with yet another hike in the costs of all essential commodities—this time, a significant rise in electricity tariffs. Thank you to OLORUN, CHINEKE, and UBANGIJI for not handing over “the air we breathe” to our Rulers; if not, we would have not only queued but paid with every drop of blood to get it.
As Nigeria faces deeper economic troubles, it feels like ”Things Fall Apart”. Ha! No doubt, Chinua Achebe’s ”There Was a Country” is a mirror of the expectations of Nigerians being dashed every day with a significant rise in everything, including electricity tariffs. The question echoes louder: Who bewitched us?
Human rights lawyer Femi Falana recently voiced a strong ‘no confidence’ vote against the Federal Government’s handling of basic public amenities, resonating with the frustrations of many. He pointed out in a Senate hearing that the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, seems to be merely following a script dictated by the IMF and the World Bank. These institutions insist on removing subsidies, which force Nigerians to pay more for necessities like electricity—much like the misguided actions in Ola Rotimi’s Our Husband Has Gone Mad Again, suggesting that our government has lost touch with the people’s needs.
Who bewitched us? While Western countries, especially the United States and the United Kingdom, continue to cushion their citizens with robust subsidies in agriculture, energy, and education, they advise Nigeria to do the opposite, ensuring that essential services become unaffordable for the majority. This stark contradiction raises questions about the fairness and intentions behind such advice. Yet, this arbitral electricity tariff increment is still unjustifiable as the uninterrupted power supply is still a mirage; indeed, this is another reminiscent of Shylock in Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice, where, like Shylock’s merciless demand for a pound of flesh, the government seems to exact financial burdens on its citizens. Who bewitched us?
Who bewitched us? It’s a cry of despair as much as it is a call to action. This relentless increase in living costs paints a bleak picture, pushing the common man into a corner of financial hardship and social despair. How many additional increases can families endure as they struggle to keep the lights on?
Who bewitched us? Every day, Nigerians wake up to the reality of climbing prices for fuel, food, and now electricity—the average Nigerian struggles even harder to make ends meet. How can the common man cope with these escalating costs in an environment where governmental support is dwindling?
Who bewitched us? This cry of despair is also a call to reconsider the policies that bind us and the external pressures that shape them. It calls for a return to policies that protect the populace’s welfare, ensuring that the voice of the common man is not only heard but also heeded.
By: Dr. Oyeduntan Enoch Adewunmi, PhD
Public Relations, Marketing, and Digital Communication Tactician
Public Health Communication and Developmental Communication Strategist
Journalism, Digital Disruption, and Media Communication Researcher.
