Citizens silent on celebration
BY BENEDICT NWACHUKWU, ABUJA
Five days away from the Christmas Day celebration, Nigerians are at a loss on what, where and how to join the rest of the world in the annual yuletide celebration.
Before now, the bliss of Christmas usually fills the air and one can feel celebrations in the air till the D-Day which is December 25. It continues to January 1 tagged New Year celebration.
But Nigerians are not in the mood to talk about celebrating any of these as the country is at the mercies of terrorists, who are dubbed bandits. Their inhumane activities have brought untold economic hardship, fears and even deaths to the citizens.
So many times, scores of citizens traveling from one part of the country to the other have been attacked, kidnapped and in some cases, killed by these terrorists.
The country has lost count of victims. This has put fears in people to the extent that only few are contemplating travelling from their places of residence to their country homes.
Those residing in the Diasporas are equally apprehensive about the insecurity ravaging in the country.
UK-based nurse, Blessing Njoku, told The Point in a telephone interview that she has shelved her plans of visiting Nigeria with her children this period and even does not know when to bring the children to the country with the current insecurity issues bedevilling the country.
She claimed that those residing inside Nigeria do not know the level of damage the terrorists have done and the perception of the country by outsiders.
“What am I coming to do in Nigeria? I’m not denying Nigeria being my country, but why should I come to risk the lives of my children? Maybe those of you living in Nigeria do not know what those terrorists have done to that country.
“For Nigeria to be compared with Afghanistan and other terrorist countries is very unfortunate. Honestly, I have cancelled every plan of coming to Nigeria now and even in the near future.”
Okechukwu Ogbuo said it is a very sad moment in his life that he will not travel to his village to celebrate Christmas and New Year with his family members.
Ogbuo, a businessman based in Abuja said the matter is so terrible that one does not know who to complain to.
“Are we to talk about the insecurity that leaves tens of commuters abducted and murdered or are we talking about the hike in transport fare as a result of the anticipated hike in pump price of fuel?
“If they abduct me and my family, where will the money to pay ransom come from? The little I have I will use it to celebrate Christmas and New Year for my family
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“Sincerely speaking, I don’t like celebrating Christmas and New Year here in Abuja but life is more precious. Since there is no security guarantee on our roads, I cannot risk it. The worst is the news we are hearing about the South East, how some unknown gunmen are just killing people there, I will rather stay here and be alive.”
Bethel Obinna is a trader at the popular Wuse market in Abuja. He lamented that there are no sales because buyers are complaining that there is no money.
“So, how can I talk about travelling? What I am particular about now is to feed my family, buy clothes for them and make them happy so that they will not feel bad in this season.
“In the past I didn’t complain about this because by this period business would be booming but now, I have to calculate before I do anything. By January now, schools will resume and I will be faced with payment of school fees. Even what is the assurance that those traveling will not end up in terrorists’ hands. If they abduct me and my family, where will the money to pay ransom come from? The little I have I will use it to celebrate Christmas and New Year for my family,” he added.
For Josephine Chukwuma, (not real name because of her status as a civil servant), the issue on ground is not travelling to the village for Christmas and New Year celebrations. She wondered how anyone could be talking about celebrations when nobody is sure of being alive the next minute.
“Oga, I am not talking about travelling or not travelling. Are you sure of being alive in the next minute? The security situation in our country is really worrisome. The killing, maiming and abduction of people almost every day is really terrifying and also disgusting. Was it not recently these terrorists burnt a commercial bus traveling from Sokoto to the south, fully loaded and you want me to consider traveling to the village. If people are lucky to escape from terrorists along the road; what of in the village? We are hearing that they are now abducting and killing traditional rulers in our South East.
“Again, where is the money to pay transport fares, buy food stuff or will I go home and depend on people in the village to feed me and my children when the people there need help from us. Are you not aware that we have not received our salaries?”
The Chief Press Secretary to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Anthony Ogunleye, however said there is no cause for alarm in the Federal Capital Territory.
He told The Point in a telephone interview that the Minister, Mohammed Bello, will have a Security Council meeting either on Monday or Tuesday where he will have detailed security discussions with the various heads of security agencies in the FCT.
“The honourable minister will have a detailed security meeting with the various heads of security agencies in the FCT either on Monday or Tuesday.
“The meeting will be addressing the questions of security in the FCT and the Yuletide celebration. I cannot preempt the meeting but I am sure, at the end of it, the residents of FCT and its environs will go about their daily business engagements without fear of molestation. Be rest assured that the FCT Administration is not leaving anything to chance and is working round the clock to ensure the security of people and property,” he said.
