Rebuilding the Nigerian economy will require a sustained effort and cannot be resolved with a quick solution.
By Abayomi Odunowo.
Every day, I am confronted with accusations that I am one of the promoters of the current hardship that majority of us Nigerians are facing, particularly the high cost of food items, transportation, and virtually all goods and services. However, I have a simple answer and scenario for those who believe this to be true.
I often pose a question to those who accuse me of being responsible for the current situation in Nigeria: If we were to bring a bulldozer into a street, how long do you anticipate it would take for the bulldozer to bring down most of the houses? The consensus is typically that it would take about a day, roughly 9 hours.
Following this, I ask another question: If we had all the necessary funds and human resources to rebuild the houses, how long do you think it would take to rebuild them all? The responses vary, with estimates ranging from 6 months to a year. This scenario perfectly illustrates the process of rebuilding an economy, as it takes time and concerted effort to restore something that has been destroyed.
I then ask a more challenging question: How long did it take for us to get Nigeria to its current almost hopeless state? This question often leaves people speechless, as they realize that it took much longer than a year for the country to reach its current state. It is unreasonable to expect the current administration to solve all of Nigeria’s problems in a short amount of time.
Yes, things are tough right now, but we must endure this hardship in order to set our country back on the right path. Just as a woman must endure the discomfort of pregnancy for nine months and the pain of childbirth in order to bring a new life into the world, we must be patient and resilient as we work towards a better future for Nigeria.
We must understand that there is no quick fix to the challenges we are facing. Rebuilding our nation will require time, effort, and cooperation from both citizens and the government. It is crucial that we work together towards a common goal, rather than engaging in disputes like the current debate over minimum wage.
It is unreasonable for labor unions to demand a minimum wage of N600k when most states and businesses are struggling to implement a minimum wage of N30k. We must be realistic in our expectations and understand that progress takes time.
I urge all Nigerians to have patience and faith in the process of rebuilding our nation. Just as a mother endures the challenges of raising a child, we must be willing to endure the challenges of rebuilding our country for the benefit of future generations.
Let us all work together towards a brighter future for Nigeria. Let us be patient, resilient, and hopeful as we navigate through these challenging times. Together, we can overcome the obstacles that stand in our way and build a prosperous and thriving nation for all.
Otunba Abdulfalil Abayomi Odunowo
National Chairman AATSG
Mobil: +2349053535322
