AN EVER WIDENING GAP BETWEEN A VENAL ELITE AND THE IMPOVERISHED MAJORITY

Nwanyanwu Chris

The gap between the rich and the poor in the human society has fertilized a plant of many questions. The situation whereby the poor hardly eats a day, whereas the rich have plenty to waste is confusing. The situation whereby the rich lives in luxury whereas the poor live in abject poverty is also confusing. The situation whereby the rich spends millions on a single article of clothing, whereas the poor manages to cover his natural nakedness is also confusing.

In addition to the above, the confusion rises when we now find out that these sets of people are living in the same society. With this, we now ask: what is the cause? What is the effect? What is the way forward?

In talking about the cause of the great and wide gap between the rich and the poor, the nature of the society has to be considered. This is because the nature of the society will go a long way to determine the nature of the life of the citizens. Basically, in the capitalist economy, the individual is allowed to control and manage the means of production and distribution of goods and services in the country, and the government managing less means of production of goods and services in the society. In this kind of society, there is bound to be a gap between the rich and the poor. This is because as only those who have the means, the rich will produce the goods and service and distribute them as they decide. Hence, the rich will grow richer and the poor will grow poorer.

In the case of socialist economy, the government controls and manages the means of production and distribution of goods and services, with the individual having little participation. In this society, the government owns a great number of the goods and services in the society. Ordinarily in this type of society there should not be any gap between the rich and the poor. But unfortunately, there is still the gap between the rich and the poor. 

In the case of a mixed economy, the government and individuals own and control the means of production and distribution of goods and services. In this type of society, the government produces goods and services as well as individuals. And so the citizens have many alternatives in meeting with their demands of goods and services. Here there may exist the gap between the rich and the poor; but it may not be well noticed if there is proper organization of things.

With these economic environments discussed above, it is clear that there is this gap between the rich and the poor. At least all fingers are not equal. This is not a problem. The problem is that this gap is VERY WIDE and continues to widen everyday in some of these economic environments especially in the Capitalist economy and mixed economy. If it were to be in the Capitalist economy, we may understand it. But this takes place in a mixed economy; and that is why we are confused. And so we ask: why is this so in a mixed economic state like Nigeria?

The answer to this question is not very far from us. We know it and it is very glaring to us. The cause of this widening gap between the rich and the poor is nothing but corruption. This cause brings along it bad leadership, selfishness, etc. The government has abandoned the citizens especially the poor. They have abandoned them by not providing the basic amenities of life for these poor masses. This is actually the reason why this gap is wide.

In Nigeria today, we lack good roads, healthcare, free education etc. The government of any society has the duty of providing these social amenities to her citizens, so that they will be able to live happy lives. To complicate the situation the more, we lack employment and security. With the present fuel subsidy removal crisis, the cost of goods and services have risen so high, such that the poor man in Nigeria now rejoices when he eats just  once a day. Of course only God will save him with what he has eaten for that day. These are the reasons why the gap between the rich and the poor widens every day. If the poor man spends more to train his child in school, what is left to feed his family when he does not receive his pension regularly?

The effect of the whole situation is that the courageous poor ones will cause problems in the society as we have been experiencing for some time now. The only solution to this woe is for the government to provide adequately all the basic social amenities required. She must provide jobs and security for the masses. The Nigerian government should provide free education to her masses at all levels or reduce the cost to a very minimal level. If she does all these, then the gap between the rich and the poor will not be much.

Yes, all fingers are not equal. But at the same time the difference between each of the fingers is not much. Similarly, we know that it is not realistic to have a classless society, but then the rich should not be too rich while the poor become too poor. It is high time we realised that too much suffering is never the best option. Beyond every other reason, it is never good given the case that the society has all it takes to better the lives of the citizens.

Nigeria should know that if the gap between the rich and the poor continues to widen, a time shall come when the poor will rise against the rich in the society. The gap between the rich and the poor could be minimised if and only if the government and all concerned help to provide the necessities of life. The gap between the rich and the poor is natural but the great and wide gap between the rich and the poor is unnatural. We all must ransom the poor in the society. The government should wake up to her responsibilities before it is too late.