The earliest recorded festivities in honour of a New Year’s arrival dates back some 4000 years to ancient Babylon. For several millennia, civilized nations around the world developed increasingly sophisticated calendars typically pinning the first day of the year to an agricultural or astronomical event. For instance, in Egypt, the year begins with the annual flooding of the Nile which coincides with the rising of the star Sirius. The first day of the Chinese New Year occurs with the second moon after the winter solstice. In Nigeria the New Year starts with the President’s New Year’s address with many peace-loving Nigerians of all faiths thanking their creator for blessings of the old year, while requesting for His grace in the New Year.
Before delving into the main theme of this piece, here is a toast to all Nigerians including my respected readers for good health and prosperity in the New Year. As we have been ushered into the New Year, I wish that the good times we all had during the past live in our memories. I firmly believe we’ve learnt lessons from the economic recession of 2016 that will make us stronger and better than ever in the New Year. The year 2017 is a perfect time to set new goals as individuals and corporate entities. But how do you manage uncertainties that have pervaded the nation’s economic landscape? Answers to this question will surface, when governments at both state and federal levels unfold their economic policies in the New Year.
More importantly, this piece is dedicated to members of the Armed Forces of Nigeria for the tremendous work they’ve been doing for several years to sustain national peace, while defending the integrity of this nation. For members of the Armed Forces of Nigeria who have been at the battlefield fighting day and night to protect the integrity of this nation, I say “thank you” from a grateful heart. My heart goes to all families who have lost their loved ones- fathers, brothers, sons and daughters, in the self-inflicted war on terror. All those who lost their lives in the country in an attempt to carrying out their statutory duties so that you and I can have peace are too numerous to be mentioned in this piece.
A great nation is that which respects the services of its heroes. Heroes who have laid down their lives for you and I to live, deserve to be honoured. They paid the supreme price to protect us all. Nigeria will be the land of the free only if it is the home of the brave. Nigeria has lost gallant officers and soldiers to the bullets of Boko Haram (BH) insurgents. War has its ugly side, even as civilians are not spared in the fight against terror. We have lost many civilians to the bullets of “herdsmen”. A pity, you may say. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have been reported to blame graft for BH insurgency and Delta militancy. Soldiers and policemen are equally, reported to have been arrested for raping Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).The entire nation was “lost in the wilderness of chaos” in 2016 with killing and maiming of innocent lives throughout the length and breadth of the country. This is not good for a country that seeks to develop. A nation cannot develop in a state of confusion.
When I sat down at home during the festive season reflecting on events of the year 2016, I concluded that we would have done better than we actually did. Someone once says that “humility is a form of wisdom.” It’s the ability to remove all barriers to clear thinking. It’s about knowing who really deserves the credit and glory for what we do. Should we give credit to elected and appointed political office holders who delayed the passage of the 2016 budget, increased electricity tariff by 45 percent with epileptic power supply, devalued the Naira, and increased pump price of petrol without passing the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB)? Or, do we appreciate those who ensured that Nigeria has more than 5 foreign exchange rates in 2016? Your response is as good as mine.
Undoubtedly, the year 2016 was very challenging to governments at all levels- local, state and federal. Families were not exempted from these challenges. Salaries of workers weren’t paid by many states of the federation. When families are economically challenged, the nation cannot prosper. As I keep analyzing policies and proffering suggested solutions in this column, it’s believed that Nigeria will forge ahead towards becoming a prosperous nation. To this end, I salute all peace-loving Nigerians for their endurance and patience in this austere time. And I say “bravo Zulu” to all members of the Armed Forces of Nigeria for their dexterity and doggedness. Hopefully, the New Year will be of immense joy to us all.
MA Johnson
