By Emmanuel Uffot
To some Nigerians and foreigners residing in the country, 2023 will be an unforgettable year as it brought pains and hardship, whereas to others, they still reap blessings and fortunes.
The year began with the resigning of new Naira Notes of N200, N500 and N1000 by the Central Bank of Nigeria ( CBN) led by Godwin Emefiele with support of then President Muhammadu Buhari.
The action led to scarcity of new notes and untold hardship especially when President Buhari announced that it will stop being legal tender.
Another significant occurrence in the outgone year in the political sphere was the General Elections of February and March which led to the Victory of Bola Tinubu as President under the All Peoples Congress ( APC) defeating Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of PDP and Peter Obi of Labour Party as well as over 27 Governors of 27 states not affected by off season elections.
The year’s presidential election offered noticeable upsets as some of the candidates prominently Obi, Atiku and elected president won in strongholds of their opponents.
The greatest of those upsets was Obi winning in Lagos and FCT, the stronghold of APC and Tinubu and Atiku winning in Katsina, hometown of former president Muhammadu Buhari and APC.
Tinubu also won in Rivers and Ebonyi states.
The hardship that trailed the redesigned Naira note magnified during the year with the removal of fuel subsidy through President Tinubu’s speech which cost sharp increase in price of fuel and other items.
Nigerians are yet to come over it as 2024 beckons.
Sadly during the year, there was no respite in insecurity in the country inspite of the new service chiefs and National Security Adviser appointed by President Tinubu.
During the year, the new president not only suspended the CBN Governor Emefiele but he was incarcerated by the DSS and EFCC for over four months for corruption in office.
He was only release from prison a week ago after meeting bail conditions while his trial continues.
Another significant milestone in Nigerian political sphere was the emergence of Senator Godswill Akpabio as the first Akwa Ibom person to be Senate President.
During the year Naira deep to the lowest ebb, exchanging for N1200 to a US Dollar in the parallel market and ₦850/₦900 to a Dollar in official market.
Sport.
In the sporting arena eventhough it was mixed fortune with the Super Eagles fumbling against football minnows in their World Cup qualification s drawing goaless with Lesotho in Uyo but their female counterpart Super Falcons put up an excellent showing at the female World Cup in Australia going out in unbeaten in regulation time at round of 16.
Nigerian footballers also excelled at the CAF Award as Victor Osimhen and Asisat Oshoala both won Men African Footballer of the Year and Female African Footballer of the Year respectively.
Falcons goalkeeper Chiomaka Nnadozie also won goalkeeper of the year while Super Falcons emerged best African Team of the Year Female.
The year also recorded the death of Rotimi Akeredolu, Governor of Ondo State.
Outside Nigeria, there was coup in Niger, coming after the one in Mali.
The Israel- Hamas war also broke out during the year and is still ongoing after unprovoked attack by Hamas led to death of over 1000 people in Israel with scores abducted.
For many Nigerians, they are looking ahead for a better 2024.
