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From TONY JOHN, Port Harcourt
Former member of the House of Representatives, Dagogo Farah, has implored the government of the day to as a matter of urgency, ensure that the welfare of the citizens is paramount as the ongoing unpleasant economic policies have turned most Nigerians indigent and increased their sufferings.
He said the purchasing powers of most Nigerians have reduced drastically in the face of high cost of goods and services and ‘unfriendly anti-people policies’ which have taken negative and deep toll on the lives of the people.
Farah Dagogo made this known in a special Eid-el-fitri message to Muslims faithful, and posited that just as most Nigerians from other religious creed, Muslims exhibited immense patience during the Holy Month of Ramadan, that preceded the Eid-el-fitri celebration, by fasting from sunrise to sunset, and dedicating extra hours to prayers and worships.
He said Christians equally demonstrated such sacrifices for nation-building during the recent Easter celebrations.
He, however, lamented that government at all levels, that were supposed to balance the teachings and lessons of the Holy periods of Easter and Ramadan by ‘ being extremely compassionate to the people , ensure the results of their actions are gratifying , opportunity for self-reflect, and be better leaders,’ were busy doing the opposite.
He expressed dismay that Nigerians were still grappling and bearing the brunt of the ill-conceived fuel subsidy removal, almost 10 months down the line, same with increasing cost of cooking gas and most recently hike in electricity tariffs with clear ‘intention and directions that provision of basic amenities such as regular supply of power is out of the reach of the common man.’
The former lawmaker said: ” I join millions of people around the globe in rejoicing with Muslim adherents on the successful completion of the Ramadan fast and celebration of Eid-el-fitri.
“But, in the right context, most Nigerian Muslims do not have the financial muscle to celebrate this Eid-el-fitri because of obnoxious anti-people policies that have taken a turn for the worse.
“Just as the Easter celebrations that was marred with forlorn expressions of abject misery, so does this celebration bore all resemblance.
” It is not too late for the government to have a deep retrospection on its economic policies. I consider it a must and a matter of urgent importance for the government to consider the welfare of the people as paramount with all policies suggesting and indicating such.
“These said unpleasant economic policies have turned many otherwise industrious Nigerians indigent and increase their sufferings.
” We are all still grappling and bearing the brunt of the ill-conceived fuel subsidy removal without any back up plan understanding fully well that the economy of the country revolves around it.
“Then, there is the increase in the cost of cooking gas and most recently hike in electricity tariffs with clear intention and directions that provision of basic amenities such as regular supply of power is out of the reach of the common man.
” And in all of these, the government considers it important to subsidise the religion jamboree of a very few to the tune of ₦90 billion. If the welfare of the majority is truly a priority, making provision for such humongous amount of money in our current state of affairs would not have been an option.”
