It has been a long year for us Nigerians, even when the year has hardly started. The year 2020 is one of a kind. I heard some people are sending humble appeals to God to take by this 2020 and give us another year. Many around the world, not just Nigerians, actually are wishing there was an opportunity for such a deal with God, to rescind a bad year and replace it with a good one. This year 2020 has actually seen more disasters in three months than so many did in twelve months. It brought with it a complex chain of events that presented differently to different people – to some a good lesson and opportunity to change; to others bad news.

As a year subsequent to one in which some elections were held, 2020 bore the brunt of some of the dirtiest things that are Nigerian politics and jurisprudence. Many, who lost elections the year before, suddenly woke up occupying the exalted offices they could not win at the ballot, by some yet to be resolved judicial/legislative abracadabra. This year also brought to a sudden end, the ambition of some Nigerian individuals to enter the Guinness Book of Records, as those with the largest number of names, aliases and name combinations – a feat our efficient election umpires and those that ought to prevent such ridicule failed to perform.

But that was the small part of the big events that have lined up. A deficit budget was made and while efforts were on to borrow and fill the hole; hell was let loose in the world oil market. Saudi Arabia and Russia began a production fight and prices began to tank towards a hitherto unimaginable $20 mark. Under the earth tremor that followed, even the president did not need a counsellor to chill his $28 million controversial loan ambition. From that point on, Nigerians went into a tunnel of confusion as they waited for the budget to be reviewed to realistically reflect developments in the oil market. Then nature came and reviewed it for us.

Then suddenly came Coronavirus, COVID 19, the new killer virus now rampaging the whole wide world. While this was going on the price of the county’s major foreign exchange earner, oil continued to go south, dropping to as low as below $27 per barrel.

In the midst of the confusion, the monetary authorities are taking a number of panic measures meant to achieve some unknown objective – the currency was “adjusted”, not devalued, to N370 per dollar. Many are still reading some tough books in Economics to fish out the fine differences between the two words. Many governments have asked workers to stay off work as COVID 19 rules the waves – in the poverty headquarters of the world. You must be in for some news.

The truth is that nobody is making any money today. In a few days, hunger, which was hanging around the corner, will take its proper place among the very same unfortunate members of the world’s poorest human enclave. I know that many of us have gone spiritual; and who wouldn’t, when giants and invincible like Bill Gates have long turned to prayer and fast. Sadly, COVID 19 does not even allow for a fellowship of the brethren. At times like these, when men can no longer trust in their skills, contacts and connections, the divine takes pre-eminence. At such times, it is usually no longer a matter of faith but a question of what works, and the spiritual part of us comes alive. I really and truly join my faith to those of all Nigerians who have since the crisis become more spiritual. I continue to hope and pray that your doubts and fears will disappear soon enough so you may return to your sinful way. God forbid.