The Ghost Town of Oron: A Stark Warning
Once upon a time, Marina Road in Oron, Akwaibom state bustled with life, fishermen, traders, and families all thriving together. Today, silence and despair have replaced the laughter and commerce. Shops are shuttered, livelihoods lost, and hope is fading. This transformation is not just an economic downturn; it is the direct result of the choices we make at the ballot box, especially when those choices are shaped by psychophancy, blind loyalty to political figures for personal gain rather than the common good.
Psychophancy during elections leads to the rise and entrenchment of corrupt, self-serving leaders. When citizens support politicians not for their integrity or vision, but for personal favors or fear of being left out, the consequences ripple through every aspect of society, it fuels economic collapse such as the one we are currently experiencing:
Currency Devaluation: Poor leadership and mismanagement cause the naira to plunge, making basic goods like crayfish, and eggs unaffordable for ordinary Nigerians.
Infrastructure Decay: Funds meant for roads, storage, and markets are diverted, increasing costs and wastage for small businesses.
Corruption and Extortion: Every layer of the supply chain is riddled with bribes and illegal levies, driving up prices and crushing honest traders.
Insecurity: Political instability and resource diversion make fishing and trading dangerous, reducing supply and pushing prices even higher.
For example, the price of a bag of crayfish has soared from ₦90,000 in 2023 to ₦450,000 today, the price of a Crate of eggs was ₦1700, but today it’s over ₦6000, a symbol of how self-serving politics can devastate daily life.
The collapse goes beyond economics:
Business Closures: Small businesses, the backbone of local economies, are the first to fall under the weight of high costs and inconsistent policies.
Worsening Poverty: Essential services disappear as public funds are siphoned off, pushing more families into poverty.
Brain Drain: As hope fades, the brightest minds leave the country, seeking opportunities elsewhere.
Eroded Trust: Widespread corruption destroys faith in leaders and institutions, eroding the social fabric and sense of national unity.
People need to know that every election is a test of our collective conscience. Supporting leaders out of fear or for personal gain, while ignoring the suffering around us, only deepens the crisis. The ghost town of Oron is a warning: psychophancy in politics leads to economic ruin, social decay, and a future mortgaged to corruption.
As we approach the next election, let’s remember the faces of struggling families and the true cost of a bag of rice, crayfish, Onions, and crate of eggs. Our votes must demand accountability, integrity, and genuine leadership, nothing less will heal our nation.
