It is common knowledge that the past year has been an unprecedented experience for most Nigerians. The country’s economy has slumped into quite a disarray with life becoming very unbearable to the common man. Hunger is the new order of the day, poverty the national identity, and survival is the new religion. Young and old, men and women regardless of ethnic background all understand this street word, shege.
Going down memory lane and looking back at the antecedents of where we are today, the critical mind could ponder and attribute the rapid regression of affairs in Nigeria to the extreme power of words, think about it! Nigeria has been experiencing a downward regression of affairs for quite a long time. However, one could argue that a few words triggered this unprecedented hardship and turmoil across the country.
On June 2, 2022, the then contestant and now President Tinubu made the “E mi Lokan” declaration in Ogun State, which according to him “invoked the spirits of freedom and determination”. Looking back, one could not help to assert that those words shaped the outcome of the 2023 presidential election. The Yoruba phrase which translates into “It is my turn” affirmed Tinubu’s unwavering commitment to win the election, thereafter becoming his campaign slogan, and ultimately his Trojan horse to the Villa. Such is the power of words, think about it!
While the E mi Lokan declaration set the path to the Villa, President Tinubu made a pit stop at the Eagle Square in Abuja on the 29th of May, 2023 to say the words “Subsidy is gone”. For the critical mind, these “harmless” words probably uttered with the best of intentions at the time turned on the fire that would eventually heat up the country to its boiling point. While many Nigerians were jubilant about the removal of subsidy and the President was exalted for his “bravery”, the jubilations and exaltations were short-lived.
The most notable consequence of those words amongst many others is the increase in the price of petrol fuel by over 300%. This alone set the chain reaction that resulted in the high cost of commodities and other basic necessities. Such is the power of words, think about it!
Frankly, the paradigm has shifted in Nigeria and Nigerians are at the boiling point. Several opinion pieces have been published on both print and social media by Nigerians narrating their plights. Social media platforms such as X (formerly known as Twitter), Facebook, and TikTok have taken centre stage, hosting conversations amongst users “ranting” away their sufferings. Without sugar coating, the unbearable state of affairs has turned Nigerians into ranters and the common language is shege.
Despite the multivariable languages in Nigeria, we have all unfortunately become very fluent in it. So without ambiguity, today I invoke the power of words, and the spirits of freedom and determination just like the President did to declare “Enough is Enough”. I subscribe to continue to rant it out as my unwavering commitment towards a better Nigeria. I believe such is the power of words, think about it!