…schools, supermarkets affected
By ‘Wole Adedeji, Ilorin
The current harsh economic situation in the country might have affected even ‘Santa Claus’; the darling ‘Father Christmas’ that Children look out for every December.
If truly Santa Claus travels every Winter from the Polar Region as children were often made to believe, the rising cost of fuel including aviation fuel might have also affected Father Christmas.
This reporter went round some schools in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital and observed that contrary to the tradition every December, no school, not even the big private ones was seen doing sumptuous end-of-the- year party that often feature ‘Father Christmas’.
This was the position till schools in the state closed for the term on Friday with no sign to suggest the arrival of Santa Claus.
Not only that, Radio and Television stations in the State appeared to have forgotten to open their libraries, bring out Christmas songs and play to liven up the season and wake up the spirits of citizens to the joys of the season.
These stations also appeared to have forgotten the culture of mounting ‘Father Christmas’ grottos in their stations as was the practice in years past which usually feature as early as late November or first week in December where children go to catch the fun of the yuletide.
Such programmes that used to run live on the stations used to feature schools before they close for the harmattan after they might have booked for such where their pupils come to visit ‘Father Christmas’ grotto live on radio and television.
The absence of these fun heralding the coming and fun of Christmas season apparently had added to the harsh realties of the current national economy which is affecting every aspect of human endeavours.
