By Akinbowale Alabi
In the early hours of Saturday 9th March 2024, news sifted around as to outcome of the much publicised and anticipated Battle of Riyadh. Prior to then, opinions varied among boxing fans, especially supporters of Anthony Joshua, in particular Nigerians who felt emotionally connected with their kinsman, and feared for the consequences of a possible loss to the “Cameroon pepper”, former UFC heavyweight champion. By the way, their fears were not unfounded, judging by how Francis Ngannou just a few months back stood toe-to-toe, and gave the reigning WBC heavyweight champion, Tyson Fury, a stiff contention, knocking him down in the process. Several pundits and fans thereafter claimed the judges gave Tyson Fury a face saving unfair decision victory. With such a background it was in order for Anthony Joshua’s fans to have queried why he accepted to fight Francis Ngannou. Many of this category of fans questioned, and rightly so, if AJ had much to gain from a victory, as much as he stood to lose from a defeat, and thus imagined it as unwise to have agreed to the fight at all. I differed with them though, and not because I didn’t worry about the consequences in the unfortunate event of a loss, but because I’d rather he withstood the risk, and prove his mettle as deserving a shot at the undisputed world heavyweight champion, on surmounting Ngannou’s opposition, or be defeated and save us the build-up of expectations not worth it at all in the first instance. You may then imagine the thrill and fulfilment I felt on learning how AJ made mincemeat of the supposed fearful opposition, by knocking him out in the second round, after knocking him down twice. This brings to mind that saying, that, cowards die several times before the appointed moment, but the valiant dies once.
The AJ/Ngannou Battle of Riyadh and the prelude is analogous with the “fight” ongoing on the economic turf, especially aftermath of the federal government’s recent decisions to stop subsidizing fuel, and same time float the Naira in the forex market, allowing market forces determine its value. These moves have drawn literal blood on the streets, making life unbearable, and circumstances ugly all around the land. Many are asking for a retreat from this battle in view of the consequences on the citizens, and “Ebi npa wa (we are hungry) has become the national dirge, from east to west, north to south, and all spaces in-between. Parents no longer can cope with the demands of feeding the family, and catering to education, health, as well as all the needs of their family. Question then becomes, is it worth it? Why should the government continue along this path of subjecting the citizens to mass hunger, with the attendant fruit of insecurity and other vices? Just as several fans questioned the rationale behind AJ accepting to fight Ngannou, many are also challenging the PBAT administration about the need for taking the country along this thorny path. Why not back down, and restore the subsidy? Why not relax the grip and bring back the two-tiered forex market, vis-a-vis incurring monthly dollar debts to sustain the artificial Naira value, all in the bid to ease the pain and literal tortuous effects on us the citizens? Just like I differed with the naysayers in the AJ/Ngannou saga, I dare to differ on this economic saga too.
Both may seem unconnected, but life itself is a battle, be it personal or societal. I don’t believe we should back down from this course. Let’s take our cur from the Nigerian spirit in AJ who dared, and has now regained his respect, besides the financial perks, and all.
We all desire the savour of a prosperous and working system, but are afraid of a truly capitalist society. I think we need to weigh the pros and cons acutely, then bite the bullet. We want uninterrupted power supply, but at the same time we’re fearful of having the investors come in to do it like the business it is meant to be. Let’s cast our minds back to the days of NITEL, and compare back then with the early days of GSM, and with what now obtains in the current dispensation. Thing is we cannot eat our cake, and yet want to keep it. There’ll definitely be false starts, capitalist exploitation, and some negatives, but it’ll eventually turn out better after due mid-course adjustments. Definitely the cost may be draconian at the start, but it tends to improve business, personal revenues, and ultimately improve lifestyle and living. The biting early effects on citizens and reactions thereof are partly why sociologists are coming to the conclusion that democracy isn’t the best form of government, because the majority always prefer welfarism which has proven over time to be contradictory to progressivism in the society. Let’s as a people summon the never say die Nigerian spirit, dig in, and I see light at the end of this tunnel. We shall overcome.
Alabi writes from Lagos
