When Senator Enyinna Abaribe, representing Aba in Abia State, brought a motion to the red chamber seeking a deliberate policy to encourage, and if possible, enforce the patronage of made-in-Nigeria goods, his eyes were on what was being pushed out from Aba, the commercial nerve centre of Abia State and indeed the South-East region, which was not getting the commensurate attention from Nigeria’s elite consumers.
Abaribe’s worry rightly caught the attention of the senators as speaker after speaker, who contributed to the motion, adduced reasons why made-in- Nigeria goods should get more attention from Nigerians than foreign goods. The neglected Aba traders had, in an apparent move to get the attention of the political elite, organised and staged what it termed Made-in-Aba Trade Fair in Abuja.
But Abaribe’s good intention got slightly derailed when the Kogi-born controversial Senator, Dino Melaye, while contributing to the debate, tried to humour it by lamenting that some Nigerians even in their quest for foreign things now prefer imported wives as against “made-in-Nigeria” women.
His view would have been taken humorously as he probably intended it until he went and mentioned Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State as one of those who would rather go for imported women as wives rather than Nigerians. The Melaye input undoubtedly fitted into the debate, but it changed the narration as the loquacious Edo governor is not the type who would allow such a hard jab on him go un-replied.
Oshiomhole is known for verbal outburst, so for a fight to be taken right into his own parlour and not expect a hit back would be like throwing stone on a chained crazy dog and expect it not to bark. An old saying among the Igbos that, Ogbu mma adighi ekwe ka mma ga ya n’azu, (the man who uses the machete freely on people would not allow another, bearing machete, behind him) came to the fore last week when Oshiomhole fired from all cylinders, using more abusive words than envisaged on the loudmouthed Melaye.
Although Melaye’s example was apt to his narration, many felt it was disrespectful to a sitting governor, from the same political family, especially when it is a purely personal family matter. But equal number of others felt that the attack was good since it was directed at a man who had always let himself loose on other Nigerians not minding the consequences. A clear case of what goes round coming round for Oshiomhole.
A former aide to Oshiomhole, John Mayaki, in a statement in defence of his former boss, said: “Melaye veered off the radar on the issue of made-in- Nigeria products, which, for me, cannot and should not include made-in-Nigeria women, if the intention of the initiator of the motion is not to be misconstrued.
Iara Oshiomhole (the governor’s foreign wife) is doing well for Nigeria and Edo people and does not deserve the categorisation Melaye attempted to taint her with.“Mrs. Oshiomhole’s ‘We Care Trust’, her pet project, whose goal is to care for the welfare of children, provides education for the girl-child, vocational training for the youths and empowerment for women has just empowered about 36 individuals across the 18 local government areas of Edo State. She had envisioned a society where, though challenging, resources are equitably and sustainably managed for the benefit of all particularly in a manner that the poor and needy can thrive and succeed.
“I want to call on Nigerians, including my friend, Dino Melaye, to encourage Mrs. Oshiomhole to do more for the Nigerian child than the confusion he attempted to make between made-in-Nigeria product and made-in-Nigeria women”, he said. Another Oshiomhole’s aide called Melaye an irresponsible man who could not manage a home.
Some said he has diarrhea of the mouth. “he cannot even maintain a decent matrimonial home, mend your way with ex-wife and concubines”, one said of Melaye. After the insults, they still went further to ask Melaye to apologise to Oshiomhole.
But what they got from the controversial senator is more abuse. Melaye said: “I cannot pretend to be who I’m not; cannot start doing things I’m not used to; too late, senator or no senator, Omo Naija proper. When am ready, una go see my made in Nigeria wife.”
As the narration changed to altercation on purely matrimonial issues, not much was heard of Abaribe’s motion, which is extremely germane, especially at this time that the nation’s humiliated currency is underscoring the importance of looking at our consumption pattern.
Political and economic watchers expect the Senate to go further than mere motion to seek appropriate legislations that could help and encourage hard working Nigerians promoting made-in-Nigeria goods smile home for their efforts. The message, which Melaye tried to underscore in bringing in the made-in- Nigeria wife aspect, is ostensibly to show the gravity of Nigeria’s abandonment of indigenously made wares but he probably lost it when he mentioned Oshiomhole, thereby taking a battle to the front of an armed soldier.
If President Muhammadu Buhari is being stubborn in ignoring views of experts in devaluing the battered naira, he is indirectly urging Nigerians to change their lifestyles and begin to face the reality of cutting their coat according to their clothes. When the Chinese closed their gates to the world for 30 years, looking inward, heaven did not fall.
Today, we all are seeing the result as they have taken the global economy headlong and dictating the pace. Something drastic must be done to discourage our ostentatious living and love for foreign items, which are all sign of inferiority complex.
My prayer is that the Senate should not allow the Melaye, Oshiomhole matrimonial fight distract it from the very important aspect of the motion, as it would go a long way in tackling our domestic economic challenges. For my Aba brothers and other local manufacturers out there, may I leave you with this encouraging entrepreneurial word from Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Group that “Business opportunities are like buses, there’s always another one coming. And I know as a fact that taking a risk in business has two way benefits, if you win, you will be happy; if you lose, you will be wise.” God bless Nigeria.
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