WORST CASE SCENARIO
If in 8 months the world doesn’t find a cure for COVID 19, and there is still an overflow of crude in the global market with reluctant buyers, then Nigeria would have ceded its sovereignty to whatever country is capable and willing to offer it succor-money. And what other country can do that but China? Hope you understand what being economically annexed to China entails?
Otherwise, Nigeria would precipitate into a state of anarchy where the worst of inhumanity that hints at survival is brought to the fore. This will spin off the instant the government say they are unable to pay salaries (the least they can afford at this time). By which time, our foreign reserves would’ve plummeted beyond the financial negative-zone (if the figure we’re told existed in the first place) — after many weeks of taking and not putting. The consequences of this one is straight up disaster, there is nothing like ‘Nigerians are mentality monsters’. Our not-industrialized economy is 90% predicated on crude oil (you fool), and yes, there is no other viable sector (but religion). Did you say taxing? On what services? Are you, are you normal?
Imagine telling all workers, including the police and military that money haff finish to pay salaries. You remember how Americans stockpiled weapons in the first week COVID 19 swung by that country? Yeah. See, it wasn’t unrelated to COVID 19 worst-case-scenario where security of life and property comes down to self. Americans are no jokers when it comes to expecting the worst and dealing with uncertainties, even with a proactive government. They don’t watch all those sci-fi cum doomsday movies for nothing.
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Unfortunately, Nigerians aren’t Americans who are backed by legislation to possess arms for the purpose of self-defense — except, perhaps, you’re a herdsman. You’ll huddle up in your homes defenseless, each passing day a decade and a miracle. If the Chucky-faced virus doesn’t break in from the back door, a man will break in through the front and stab you in the neck for half a cup of coarse-grained garri, or you simply die of hunger — or despair — or any other underlying health problem having a field day.
Forget about money, it will mean nothing to those who have it. If for anything, those who have will be at the mercy of those who don’t (speak of finally handing the fox key to the henhouse). And who will risk their lives selling anything? Except you’re backed by organized crime? You’ll rather secure what’s left of your goods for self and family. Markets, supermarkets, stores will all lie ransacked in the wake of scarce essentials like medicine, potable water, salt, cooking-oil, toiletries, gas, and sex. Sex? Yeah, even the lack of that too, will take a toll on people, like a lack of joint would a junkie.
Fortunately, nobody will leave, and nobody will be safe. Christians, Muslims, Atheists. Rich and poor. Ironically, the President, Vice president, Senator, Governor, Minister, Commissioner, Chairman, Daddy GO, Imam, Chief, Alhaji, Oba, Amir, Igwe, Obong — will all fall in the most vulnerable category — where they get to experience firsthand what it feels like to be sick and not have access to good healthcare or live in a society where security is afforded only by the height of their fences, or walls of their luxury homes.
But if we survive, this will mark a critical watershed in our history (otherwise we were never meant to emerge from the wild) — where we rebuild from scratch, or split by concession. The CPC in 1978 didn’t wait until it was ravaged by a pandemic before they reformed China. They asked the critical worst-case-scenario questions and the answer stared them in the face like a rampaging boogeyman. It was a big decision to take, and by all means mountainous; like the Everest with an arrow pointing to the summit. And all they had to do was carve stairs into its sides all the way around to the top.
© Remz.
