On this Democracy Day, I had intended to rest my pen. I wanted to leave the fate written on the walls of history to speak for itself. I thought perhaps the sacrifices of those who fought for democracy were enough testimony. Yet, in the final hour, a thought stirred within me, compelling me to write a message to all of us who have come together to form this sovereign nation called Nigeria. My message is particularly for those who believe that the business of Nigeria lies in the hands of a powerful few. Perhaps they are influenced by what the German sociologist Robert Michels described as the "Iron Law of Oligarchy" ,the tendency for power to concentrate in the hands of a small elite. Looking at our politics, our institutions, and our economy, one may be tempted to believe that the destiny of Nigeria is determined only by those who occupy powerful offices and influential positions. But history tells a different story. Nigeria does not belong to any president, governor, politi...
By Abioye Tosin Lawrence
.....warning to those who treat this nation like an ATM without limits
For years, Nigerians have been taken for granted by service providers, manufacturers, and even those in public office. Our resilience has too often been misread as acceptance. Our silence interpreted as weakness. Our ability to endure hardship mistaken for passivity. But the recent development with DStv is a clear reminder that there’s a limit to how much the average Nigerian can take.
DStv’s drastic 50% price cut, following the loss of over 1.4 million subscribers, is not an act of generosity, it’s an act of desperation. It is the direct consequence of years of exploitative pricing, poor customer engagement, and disregard for the economic realities facing millions. Nigerians didn't protest with placards. They simply walked away. They canceled subscriptions. They embraced alternatives. And that quiet resistance spoke louder than any outcry.
But this is not just about DStv. It’s a message to all manufacturing and service companies that have built their empires by milking Nigerians dry, charging more, delivering less, and hiding behind monopolies. It’s a warning to those who treat this nation like an ATM without limits.
In a country where the citizens work endlessly, hustling every day, enduring epileptic power supply, water scarcity, insecurity, and rising costs of living, it is almost criminal to keep increasing prices without improving value.
Sadly, while we suffer, the people meant to defend us, lawmakers and regulators are often busy sponsoring baroque, irrelevant bills. They fixate on crucifying non-voters or chasing political clout, instead of enacting laws that protect consumers from exploitation or ensuring economic fairness.
Still, even in our disjointed state, there is unity in suffering and even more, in the decision to say “enough.” Apathy may delay our collective response, but history shows that when the burden becomes unbearable, Nigerians rise together.
One day, and soon, we will wake up and this Nigeria, where people struggle endlessly with little to show, will cease to exist. The unjust electricity bills, the price gouging, the systemic cheating, all of it has an expiry date.
Because the Nigerian people may bend, but they do not break.
And when they choose to stand, no company, no government, no force can hold them back.
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