Nigerians have been in crazy hardship since Buhari times. The difference is, now, things get worse a lot faster than usual, and it's affecting the wrongly perceived upper middle class who happen to be the loudest on the Internet.
I went to a Private University and I knew at least 15 people whose academic fees and expenses were barely catered for and will do 2-3 days starving ‘cos they couldn't afford food in a school that puts a ban on student's freedom and entrepreneurship.
I can remember 3 guys always cursing the families and descendants of Governor Ajimobi and Governor Amosun ‘cos both of their parents worked for Ogun and Oyo State Government, and they were owed salaries for months. (Today, one of them supports Tinubu ‘cos fuck Omo Igbo. He's a wretch).
I started white collar jobs and I went from Job to Job ‘cos it was my only bet to get a little bump in my monthly pay. The load on my shoulders have never been light. But I found out that it was even worse for a lot of people: guys couldn't repair their phones after it spoilt so they used the office computer like it was personal; guys stayed in the office until night just to use the Internet—they couldn't afford frequent Data subscription. Some people complaining now shamed them for not being smart or hardworking enough.
But a lot of these people were energetic graduates. Some had ICAN, some ICSAN, some were doing CIBN with hunger and debt; some haven't dressed admirably since Convocation. Imagine my disgust when these Twitter bastards discuss about 40k dates.
Personally, I think I'm more stunned that I'm still in Nigeria (it's genuinely shocking), than the fact that we're in crazy hardship. ‘Cos, I knew it would turn into this. We (I and my colleagues whom I won't mention here) talked about this about 10 years ago. We were fresh law students that "carried politics on our heads." Lmao, look at us.
I think it will get worse and worse; not in the looooong term; I mean, before September this year: many of us would witness the type of hardship that would make us throw morality and decorum out of the window to do whatever; not just for survival, but for a taste of extravagant luxury. 'Cos, after all we're Nigerians—our relative exposure and education makes more vain and materialistic than the average Subsharahan African. Some might say, "cultured" Black Americans.
Also, when you can't enjoy the basic things: like a walkable community, or neat calm beaches and vegetation, or playgrounds, working Internet & telephone network, electricity or security; you'll crave extravagance—something you think is the complete contrast to the life you're living; this life you detest.
It would get worse 'cos it's Tinubu. Jaggy is not like Buhari, who's an incompetent Islamist set to exploit state resources to fund his arrogance. Buhari, compared to him, is a chill guy. Jaggy is set to hurt Nigerians by leveraging everything he has. Nothing will stop him. Nothing can stop him—except God. He's lost. He's extreme. He's mad. He moves like a weapon. He's probably the first president that answers to no one. There'll be suffering. People will die. It means nothing.
Like COVID Lockdown, when guys whom I knew who hung around the Bars as Shisha boys, Waiters, and Errand guys, started snatching provisions or any Spar or Shoprite bag they saw. ‘Cos, Business was closed and they needed to feed.
Around the same time, the End Sars loot riot had happened. One of my greatest regrets was not taking a picture of the pregnant woman I saw drag a big plastic bag of cooked rice from Chicken Republic. Also, a child had been tied to her back.
If you're among those who'll act on their desperation now, (if you're even aware of it), you have to understand that this has been many people in the past 8 years and you judged them for it. You'll discover that righteousness requires actual strength and not just virtue signalling. We shall see.
We watched the stars at dusk and rolled into bed like logs,your breath on my neck is fire and ice.
Our bodies make melodies at dawn. When we kiss goodbye at twilight, we let a piece of us die along with our parting song.