Interview

Nigerians should brace up for more economic challenges in 2024 —Pressure Ti Wa

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1 year ago

During the cash crunch that greeted the unavailability of cash experienced by many across the country in February, Adebola Adebisi became popular for his hilarious, but candid comment, Pressure Ti Wa. In this interview with MICHEAL BABATUNDE, he x-rayed life during that period and the economic situation many Nigerians are facing currently.

In February, when there was naira scarcity, you became popular because of your PRESSURE TI WA comment. Between then and now, what has changed with you?

At the time of that video, I was on the verge of killing myself. A lot happened because of that video, but they say as long as there is life, there is hope. I will start with my mother who used to hawk goods and I always felt hurt whenever she went out to hawk her goods. However, through the publicity I enjoyed then, we got her a job but it is a pity that she later fell ill and died.

For me, being a celebrity does not mean you have all you need or that you are wealthy. It is unfortunate that one may suffer during that time. Many people felt I was doing well because of the kind of people they saw me with; nobody wanted to help. Everything was hard.

What kind of job do you do?

I am into general printing and graphics design. I am also into entertainment vis-a-vis acting and skit-making. I have my videos online @pressure-ti-wa

How would you describe what happened between then and now?

Every one of us feels the pangs of this harsh economy; it is not in one person’s room, but in everyone’s room. It was not this hard in February because even to eat nowadays has become hard. People are dying in silence. Let’s talk about fuel; most of the filling stations buy at the same place but why do we have variations in prices? What we used to spend on three trips is no longer enough for one trip. People cannot even go out to look for what to eat, because the money with them is not even enough to go out. We are only asking for mercy. Some people will die of hunger when there is no one to help. Garri is now expensive, just like rice, beans, and even kerosene that we use to cook. Firewood is not even affordable now. What we had then was pressure, but now that pressure has an additional ‘s’; we now have pressures.

How have you been coping?

It is not good to die in silence. I have been struggling since February and things are yet to get better, but they say the patient gains the world and I believe and hope in that. Only those you tell will know you are hungry. I have my family –a wife and two kids– but the economic situation made me send my firstborn to live with my mother-in-law. We are just surviving and praying to God not to allow us to eat a meal prepared by our enemy. We are just making efforts to survive.

For how long do you think this situation can be endured?

If you are not strong and bold enough, it is better you go with 2023 because 2024 will be worse. Those who own cars now trek. I only pity the aged ones. Imagine someone who has been doing fine and earning well but cannot afford to feed himself anymore. He may resort to crime. But for the aged, is it the child that cannot fend for him/herself that will remember his aged parents? This is why I said, if you are not strong enough for 2024, just go with 2023.

If you have the opportunity to meet with President Bola Tinubu, what will you tell him?

God gives us time, but if I have the opportunity to meet with the president, I will say he should make things convenient for us, particularly in the area of food. They say once food is out of one’s problems, poverty has ended. If people can buy food and eat at the right time, nobody will think of someone being richer. The president should also suppress the increasing prices, particularly the price of petrol. If you ask the water vendor beside your house, they will cite cost of petrol as the reason for hiking the water bill.

I will also talk to him about education, because education is the best legacy. The president is ruling because he is educated. So he should monitor the state of the country’s education. We have been appealing before now, but we hope our voice can be further amplified so as to reach our president; things are not going well, and we need something to be done fast.

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