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It’s a Matter of Cash…

By Jude Atupulazi

In the 80s, there was this popular TV soap opera titled, ”It’s a Matter of Cash” by Bassey and Company. There was this central character called Bassey who believed in the power of cash solving every problem, no matter how knotty. It was quite a hilarious programme then enjoyed by many. It is now many years ago but little did we know that the world of Bassey would one day come alive among us as we see today.

These days, many of our young men, like Bassey, believe that it is a matter of cash, with nothing else mattering. Because they have the cash, they listen to no one and have become lords of the Manor, as well as a law unto themselves. Many of these fellows are Yahoo Boys, politicians and ritualists, who, because of the easy manner they made and still make their money, spend it as if there is no tomorrow; knowing for sure that there is more stacked away.

At events you can see such people spraying cash worth millions; sometimes in foreign currencies. At night clubs you see them buying a bottle of wine worth one million Naira. They simply don’t know what decency and modesty mean.

These are people who have more than anyone else negatively influencing our young ones who have grown to believe that the beginning and end of everything in this country is money. Thus they can go to any length to be like their nascent heroes whose money has bought them chieftaincy titles in their communities.

They see them as those above the law because despite government’s repeated warnings against abusing the Naira at events, nothing has happened to those guys.

But not long ago, it seemed like the tide is about to change, with the Federal Government, through the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, going tough against those caught abusing the Naira at events like parties, funerals, weddings and such like.

First to go was cross dresser, Bobrisky, the man who prefers to look like a woman. He is now cooling off in prison after being jailed for six months. The next was Paschal Okechukwu, popularly known as Cubana Chief Priest, who was quickly arraigned and he paid heavily to bail himself. After him was the popular self-acclaimed man of God, Odumeje, who is however not back from his trip abroad.

In the aftermath of this clamp down, mixed reactions have been trailing the arrests, with some wondering if their arrests would solve the country’s problems and rather preferring that the government directs its searchlight on thieving politicians. Yet, there are others that are happy with the arrests, believing that the activities of such people abusing the Naira at events need to be curtailed. I am one of the latter school of thought.

While the government should indeed go after the thieving political class who have been milking our commonwealth dry, I see nothing wrong in also going after those who have contributed in no small measure to destroying our value system.

It is because of these people that many a young man today believe that money grows on trees and have thus forgotten the value of hard, honest work. Besides, it is very clear that 90% of those people throwing money around at events did not get such money legitimately as no one who did so would waste five million Naira in a crowd, for instance.

So going after them will stop the nonsense we are being treated to at events and bring a semblance of sanity to our social space. Anyone who has money has a right to enjoy their money without assaulting the sensibilities of others. We must not be loud because we have a few wads of the Naira or Dollar notes in our pockets.

It is such loudness that is making our host communities to despise us. In South Africa, for instance, while other nationals will make money and enjoy such in quietude, our compatriots will make theirs and won’t let others rest. It is not appropriate and goes beyond the bounds of decency.

Here is how the case of Cubana Chief Priest was reported in one of the newspapers:

Nigeria – The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has filed a three-count charge against popular Instagram celebrity, Pascal Okechukwu, also known as Cubana Chief Priest, for allegedly spraying and tampering with the Naira at a social event contrary to the provisions of the Central Bank Act of 2007.

According to Channels TV report, Cubana Chief Priest will be arraigned on Wednesday, April 17th, 2024, before Justice Kehinde Ogundare of the Federal High Court, Lagos.

In a copy of the charge, which was filed on April 4th by EFFC’s prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), alongside seven other lawyers representing the chairman of the Commission and obtained by Channels TV, it was alleged in Count 1, “that you, Okechukwu Pascal on 13th Feb. 2024, at Eko Hotel, within the jurisdiction of the court, while dancing during a social event, tampered with funds in the denomination of N500 (Five Hundred Naira) issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria by spraying same for two hours, and you thereby committed an offence, contrary to and punishable under Section 21(1) of the Central Bank Act 2007”.

In Count 2, it was alleged, “that you Okechukwu Pascal, sometime in 2020, in Lagos during a social event, tampered with funds in the denomination of N500 (Five Hundred Naira) issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria by spraying same for two hours, and you thereby committed an offence, contrary to and punishable under Section 21(1) of the Central Bank Act 2007”.

In Count 3, it was alleged, “that you Okechukwu Pascal, sometime in January 2024, in Lagos, during a social event, tampered with funds in the denomination of N500 (Five Hundred Naira) issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria by spraying same and you thereby committed an offence, contrary to and punishable under Section 21(1) of the Central Bank Act 2007”.

Now, can you see what was alleged in one of the charges? That he sprayed five hundred Naira notes for two hours! Only God knows the total amount splashed at the end of it all. And you can be sure that many young people were there watching while others not there would later watch through other social media mechanisms.

Chief Priest is not alone in such acts as there are even those who splash a higher denomination. What they intend to achieve by such garish display of affluence is what beats me. It is really beyond the bounds of decency. Everything does not begin and end with cash but these people are contriving to make it look so.

Because of what they have caused, society is now beginning to glorify such people and accord them more respect than those who made their money genuinely. I will never forget this year, at an event, when a respected professor in my town entered the venue of an event. He was barely recognized by the master of ceremony. But the moment a so-called money-bag entered, all hell was let loose.

The MC and all manner of otimkpus (praise singers) went literally berserk and fought to outdo one another in who would praise and attract the attention of the money-miss-road. A look at many of the people gathered there shocked me too as most of them were as excited as the professional otimkpus.

Now, tomorrow, tell me if any boy who was there would not want to be like the money-bag? But what irks me the most is the fact that people who should bury their heads in shame because of the shoddy way they made their money are now ”gallantly” parading themselves and advertising their shady background to everybody.

It is now indeed, fashionable to be seen as a Yahoo Boy. That is why they move about in their trade mark earrings, sagging trousers and dreadlocks; plus the particular brand of cars associated with them. Instead of regarding them with contempt, many adore them and see them as successful.

The worrying thing is that their numbers keep increasing by the day and they are even making house rents to go up in the townships because they don’t haggle with the landlord. In fact, many landlords are known to increase their rent in order to make tenants quit so that these Yahoo Boys will move in and pay anything. They don’t usually live long at any place but will move out after two or so years. Thus, one can see their negative impact on the economy of poor, struggling folks.

As bad as things have gotten, it looks like there will be no end to such, as most landlords are trying to cash in on the money dangled by these deviants. It is simply, a matter of cash.

May God save us.

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