Abeg, NEPA Bill Is Cheaper Than Generator Fuel. Fight Me.

My son came to visit me in Ibadan last weekend. He saw my small generator sitting quiet for three days and asked if it was broken. I told him nothing is wrong with it, I just decided to start buying fuel only when the darkness becomes unbearable. He laughed and said his own generation does not have that kind of patience.

In my time in the civil service, we used to say a word is enough for the wise. These young people want to run generator from morning till night, and then they will complain that money is finishing. One must understand that the NEPA bill, even when they bring estimate, is still cheaper than buying fuel every single day. I have observed over the years that the people who shout loudest about light are the same ones who leave their air conditioner on for the whole compound.

The Yoruba say patience is the father of wisdom. I am not saying we should accept darkness. I am saying we should count the cost before we open our mouth. My wife of 38 years still lights the kerosene lamp when the light goes, and she does not complain. So tell me, my people, is it better to buy fuel every day or to wait small for the light to come back?