Christmas, celebrated annually, is never a surprise. As the world's largest religion, Christianity makes this season the most widely observed globally. It is more than a day’s celebration; it is a season steeped in spiritual significance that travels far deeper than its social festivities. Thus, the greeting is "Happy Christmas," reflecting its spiritual essence, and not merely "Merry Christmas," which conveys fleeting merriment (Asanbe, 2023). Traditionally, Christmas is a season of joy and togetherness, transcending cultural boundaries with its hallmark of giving, love, and charity. Yet, in Nigeria, the Christmas of 2024 has taken a dark and ominous turn, casting shadows over what should be a time of light and hope, thanks to the failure of governance.

Globally, Christmas wears  the gown of charity, a virtue that sees even the poor reaching out to the vulnerable, sharing not just material gifts but also the spirit of a God who gave His only Son to the world. In Nigeria, however, where the middle class has been eroded and the poor have been utterly submerged, the act of giving has turned into a desperate struggle for survival. Across the nation, stampedes over palliatives have become the new reality.

In the past week alone, devastating incidents unfolded in various states: 35 children perished in a stampede at children's funfair in Oyo State, 22 individuals died in Anambra State, and 10 lost their lives in Abuja during  food distribution event at Holy Trinity Catholic Church. 

 These tragedies are not isolated; they are symptomatic of a broader malaise affecting Nigeria, where inflation has soared to a staggering 34.6%, and over 63% of the population lives in poverty. As fear grips the South and North, no one can predict where the next disaster will occur. These chilling events are not the product of Christmas charity gone awry but are the consequences of misguided government policies that have pauperized the masses, leaving even the moderately well-off struggling for basic survival.

The root of the problem is glaringly clear: the policies of a government that has failed to prioritize its people. A season that has always been marked by abundance and joy now mirrors a dystopian nightmare, one of scarcity, starvation, and mounting death tolls from stampedes over food. The government’s obstinate refusal to reverse these destructive policies, its insensitivity to the cries of the masses, and its insistence on palliatives as a solution to systemic issues, highlight a disturbing disconnect.

 Nigeria cannot survive on temporary fixes while governance continues to hemorrhage resources through extravagance, insecurity, and policies that choke economic resilience. The onus is on the leadership to reverse this grim trajectory by adopting people-centered approaches, cutting the cost of governance, and fighting insecurity with sincerity and resolve. Until then, Christmas, once a beacon of hope and renewal, will remain a season of hardship and fear for millions, a damning indictment of a nation’s leadership failing its people.

It is stressful trying to conclude this piece with the Yutide season's greetings but trusting in God, I say happy Christmas Season to those in the City & those in the World

Fr. Okhueleigbe Osemhantie Ã, Ph.D