The turn of the economy to the worst state it has been in 30 years and probably ever since the inception of Nigeria, has put the livelihoods of several Nigerians in doubt. So many have lost their jobs with recent statistics released by the National bureau of Statistics saying over a million Nigerians have lost their jobs in the last one year.
As such, hunger is the middle name of most Nigerians now. Left, right and center, you see people that are hungry. Stories abound as to the depths people have sunk low to in order to obtain food for themselves.
However, what is strange is the Special Adviser to the President coming out to say he goes hungry as well. The very thought of such a highly ranked political officer going hungry as a result of economic hardship seems bizarre, especially in a country like Nigeria where the masses get the leftovers from the polity’s meals.
That though, is the claim of Femi Adesina, the Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity. He claimed that his salary has been and his salary has been reduced by 33%. As a result, he says ‘when there is hunger in the land, I go hungry too. Well, almost. When people talk of lack of money, I penny-pinch, too’.
In his article entitled ‘After Ye Have Suffered A While’, Adesina said the downturn affects everybody, including highly ranked political officers.
Whether you believe that story or not, though, is a different matter.