ONCE UPON A CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION
Ayo Oyoze Baje relives olden days Yuletide season with nostalgia
“Good governance is the art of putting wise thought into prudent action in a way that advances the well-being of those governed.”
― Diane Kalen-Sukra (Author, speaker, advisor and educator)
The mere mention of the word ‘Christmas’ evokes a scintillating spectrum of euphoria, as not just an annual religious celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, who the Christians refer to as the son of the Most High God but that of a period of the reunion for faithful family members, long-term friends and fans. It is usually seen as a time for holiday, meant for renewing friendships, caring and sharing by exchanging gifts.
In fact, it is also seen as one memorable moment that marks the end of the calendar year and the time for sober reflection. One therefore, uses it to think about the main events of the past year; the achievements made, the challenges encountered, as well as the mistakes to overcome in the subsequent years ahead.
Incidentally, for me as an Ebira-born, Kogi State citizen this period also coincides with the annual Ekuechi festival. For us, as renowned farmers, it marks the end of the year, also the harvest season and a period to return home to reunite with family members, and actively engage in the festivities of cooking and serving traditional delicacies of the protein-rich apapa, pounded yam, prepared with the mouth-watering soup of melon spiced with dried catfish.
Characteristic of the average Ebira person as a dependable and hospitable icon, friends from far and near are hosted to savour the delicious dishes. They are also taken round to watch the exciting performance of masquerades and listen to the message -filled lyrics from the songsters. Translations are made, where necessary for foreigners. These songs are often poignant, poetic and proverbial. While some are prophetic accurately presaging events to come, others are laced with satire and sarcasm. Mainly, they reflect on happenings in the society and serve as the moral compass to guide people on the principles of hard work, honesty of purpose and being our brothers’ keepers.
It is even believed that the Ekuechi festival also marks the period to spiritually connect with our long-lost ancestors, as prophecies are made by the masquerades on the challenges ahead, the sacrifices to be made to avoid mishaps and the right paths to tread in the years ahead.
In all of these, there was ample display of inter-ethnic harmony, peace and conviviality under an enabling environment of affordable consumables, including food items. That was what played out back in the sixties, through the seventies up till the early nineties. But what do we have on ground as at this day? The answer is there before us all.
Looked at from the general perspective, it is indeed a crying shame that as at December 2023 the average Nigerian is faced with clearly avoidable issues when getting ready to celebrate this year’s Christmas. For instance, how do you explain a saddening situation that you get to the bank and you are told to your face that you cannot withdraw more than N5,000 of your hard-earned money because of a deliberate, asphyxiating fiscal policy of cash crunch! Meanwhile, the elite and rich policymakers have billions of public fund stashed away in both local and foreign vaults- money that they do not really need. But that is only a tip of the ice berg.
Coming back to the harsh reality on ground, you are similarly confronted with a dark environment of lack of electric power supply for five or more odd days! And of course, you keep battling with lack of water supply. Amidst all these frustrating features of poor governance the prices of consumables keep skyrocketing. A bag of rice that used to sell for N7,000 during the people-friendly tenure of former President Goodluck Jonathan now goes for N57, 000. A bag of beans then was N5,500 but currently sells for N33,000. A keg of vegetable oil that was sold for N2, 500 now sells for N7,500. A bag of pure water that went for N50 now goes for N300! One could go on and on. How do you explain all of that in the 21st Century Nigeria and during the festive season, at that?
It is most unfortunate that those power-poaching politicians, who conspired to oust Jonathan from the seat of Aso Rock promising “Change” have taken the country to the “Next Level” of Sorrows, Tears and Blood (STB)!
That perhaps, explains why concerned Nigerians should keep highlighting the importance of good governance. And that is because the painful irony of 133 multi-dimensionally poor citizens in a land blessed with oil and gas, abundant mineral resources, vast agricultural potential, attractive tourism destinations and some of the best of brains the world could boast in virtually every sector of human endeavour is inexcusable.
To get back to the good old and glorious days of celebrating Christmas with excitement; having access to cheap food, clothes and transportation, the political paradigm shift that favours the people has become an imperative. As consistently canvassed over the decades, political restructuring along with true fiscal federalism is the best way forward.
Let the states, or geo-political zones control their God-given natural resources, take full responsibility for providing security, education, healthcare delivery, agricultural development, tourism and transportation and pay an agreed tax to the centre. On its part, the centre should have control over the military that protects our territorial integrity.
That was what played out in this same country during the First Republic in the early sixties, with the Sir Ahmadu Bello-led Northern Region, Chief Obafemi Awolowo as Premier of the old Western Region and Michael Okpara as his counterpart in the then Eastern Region. Back then the poor could breathe so well, enjoying good governance that they trooped back home to celebrate Christmas with pomp and pageantry.
Baje writes from Lagos
