Christmas is one celebration that Christians all over the world including those in Aba, the commercial hub of Abia State, are eager to welcome. Apart from being a celebration to mark the birth of Christ, it also offers families the opportunity to go on spending spree, buying new clothes, shoes and food items. It also provides opportunity for people to visit family members and friends to share gifts and pleasantries. However, due the current economic recession in the country, most families will not have surplus funds to spend on clothing’s and even rice, which has become a staple food in the country. Most families are more interested in stocking food items, rather than spending on clothing’s, which is now seen as luxury. Visit to Ariaria International market, which used to be a beehive of activity during this period, as patrons come from all over the country to buy Christmas items, was a shadow of itself, as the market was scanty, while the traders wore gloomy faces. Nkechi Nwaigwe, a dealer on children wears and shoes at A-line, observed that patrons have stayed away, due to high cost of items. For instance a pair of baby shoe, which formally sold for about N2500 is now N4500. Other traders, who spoke to our correspondent, attributed the situation to scarcity of foreign exchange. Food items is not also left out in the price increase, as 50 kilogram of rice, which sold between N8,000 to N12,000 depending on the quality, last year, is now N22,000. Consequently, a cup of rice, which sold for N50 last year is now N150. However, despite the challenges, residents of Aba, the commercial hub of Abia State will join the rest of the world to celebrate this year’s Christmas. Already the annual Star Christmas Carnival organized by the Nigerian Breweries plc, has commenced, providing entertainment for the people. Another place that will attract Aba residents this yuletide season is “Eldorado Hotel and Entertainment centre”, which opened its doors to the public few weeks to Christmas. Meanwhile Comrade Bonnie Iwuoha, commissioner for Informational and Strategy, Abia State has thanked God for seeing the people through this year of recession. The commissioner in his good will message to the people of Abia State, urged all Abians to maintain their faith and confidence in God that He who started it all, who allowed them to go through this period, will also see them through it and give them better moments ahead of time. He urged everyone to celebrate with a measure of control, noting that people should not engage in excessive activities that could create problems for them. He also urged them to be mindful of the fact that one who survives lives to tell the story about every event and every situation. While wishing Abians a Merry Christmas and a prosperous new year, Comrade Iwuoha, stated that Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has very good plans for Abians, both this month of December, 2016 and in 2017 and in subsequent years. He urged Abians to continue to pray for the Governor and his Government that God would continue to use him to do good works. “Let God protect him, in his going out and coming in. even if it is for the sake of Abians, let God let the economy to improve, so that Abia State, could have more money to embark on good development projects. Also Mkpa Agu Mkpa, former secretary to Abia State Government, wished Abians Merry Christmas and a happy new year and urged them to support the Government that God has given to them. In his words, “this is our State, we have no other place to go. Let us invest in good will and let us pray for the success and progress of Abia State, particularly our Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, all the members of the State executive council, all the permanent secretaries, civil servants, all teachers and all other parastatals, we pray God to bless Abia, enrich Abia, restore peace and tranquility to Abia and bless all Abians of goodwill. “Please for goodness sake trust that God in his infinite mercy will continue to provide for all us. Yes, the recession is there, but all those that put their trust in the Lord, shall rejoice, because God has a way of providing for us. “But let us run away from crimes, let us put our trust in the Lord, but let us work assiduously, because if you work hard the reward for hard work is progress and success. “So, it will be good for us, because God will feed
us every day, but let us not be frivolous, let us not be rascally, let us not engage in criminality, let us not do anything that will tarnish the image of our State. Wherever we are, let us remember that we are Children of God’s Own State and God’s own children will behave like God’s own people. We thank everybody and we wish us a prosperous new year in advance”.
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