Ahead of the Easter celebration cross the country, some Christian faithful in Osun State have expressed concern over the harsh economic realities that might distort plans towards celebrating even at the end of the Christian 40 days fasting.
Residents of the state too have continued to lament the high cost of foodstuff, goods and services.
The Christian faithful in separate interviews with National Daily Newspaper in Osogbo, decried the high cost of food commodities due to the current inflation rate that resulted from the removal of fuel subsidy by President Bola Tinubu.
National Daily Newspaper had reported that President Bola Tinubu on May 29, 2023 had suspended the fuel subsidy regime and floated the Naira.
Days after the new policies, the nation’s economy began to nosedive.
The lamentations have increased in recent times even as Christians in the state make preparations for the Easter festivities.
The economic challenges and financial resources draining situation notwithstanding, residents have displayed optimism, noting that things may not remain the same in the long run.
Expressing dissatisfaction at the high cost of foodstuff, Oluremi Olugbenga said he is looking forward to a memorable celebration and sees the economic challenges as a passing phase.
A visit to Owode-Ede market along the Gbongan-Ibadan road indicates that cost of foodstuff has not gone down.
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National Daily Newspaper gathered that the market which comes up every five days has one of the cheapest rates for foodstuff in the state, a reason it is patronized by many residents on market days.
A trader, Helen Damilola while chatting with National Daily Newspaper correspondent stated that the cost of foodstuff never really went down.
She added that the Ramadan period also made these prices to shoot up a bit.
“Foodstuff prices dipped before Ramadan and still remains so.
The Muslim fasting made foodstuff price to go up.
“It may be like this throughout the Easter and Ileya festivals which is just days apart.
“We hope it will fall after the festivities because it is indeed not helping sales.”
A trader, Abimbola Oyebamiji said prices of major foodstuff and items needed for food have gone up.
“Rice is now selling at N75,000 per bag. Oloyin beans is N2,500 per Kongo, Drum is N2,000.
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“Pepper is N8000 per plastic, onion is N56,00 per bag.
Business is slow but since it is festive season, there is hope that sales would boom since two festivals will come after one another.”
A cleric, Joshua Okunola, ofnthe Christian Redemption Ministries, Osogbo, speaking on the matter attributed the problem to President Tinubu’s fuel subsidy removal policy.
In his words, “The whole problem started when President Bola Tinubu made that wicked announcement.
It started when President Tinubu unjustly suspended fuel subsidy without making up for it.
“As a leader, we didn’t encourage our members to wait for government palliatives that we are only hearing of but cannot see. If the church has not been intervening and performing her roles, no Nigeria government could have survived.
“That’s the truth. So, at a time as this, the message that is sent across churches to Christians by our leaders is to do all things moderately, National Daily Newspaper gathered.