FEMI OWOEYE
At this year’s award night of Toyota Nigeria Limited held recently in Lagos, the company’s chairman, Chief Michael Ade-Ojo, delivered an emotional speech, what can best be described as “straight from the heart”, speaking the minds of average Nigerian motorists and indeed non-motorists. Most especially, he offered a piece of elderly advice as to what and what not to do in a recession time, warning motorists against cutting corners with automobile maintenance and lots more..
It’s revealing and thought provoking. Have a ball:
[dropcap]W[/dropcap]e are aware of the times of this season. We are aware of the recession, which has descended on our economy. And we are all trying to cope with the consequences of the recession.
Everybody is carrying a face, which does not show joy, because you are suffering from lack. We can hardly afford vehicles, not even the cheapest is cheap again, not to talk of the King of them all, Toyota.
We have experienced the dealing of devaluation at first glance. We have seen the true dealing of inflation. If you are told the price of a good today, tomorrow it is no more the same.
Custom duties, like Sango (God of thunder), has come upon vehicles with a very big axe to do unspeakable things to the cost of vehicles.
As if the duty of 35% is not high enough, there is similar surcharge of 35%, which means paying additional charges on cars like SUV and the likes. Result of this are the very high price tags on cars today.
Even prices of used cars are now higher than that of new cars yesteryears.
So we are facing a rough time.
I sympathise with everyone here. Difference is that some of us can bear it than others. But we are all in cash 22.
I pray that the two weeks that appear to be cooling the atmosphere will continue, so that light can come back fully into Nigeria.
I am happy, last six months should teach everybody a lesson that when there is an abundance, you must not be extravagance; otherwise you may suffer the consequences.
My advice is this: Try to outlive this difficult period by what I call Structuring Adjustment. That is try and survive the pain, so that you can get a second chance to live.
This is My Elderly advice to everyone here.
In this kind of weather, one may be tempted to engage in some unwholesome practice. My sincere advice is that ‘BE CAREFUL’. Do n not because of hard time do what can do bigger damage in future.
To vehicle owners, do not because of hard time today take those expensive vehicles to unauthorized garages, where the damage may not be apparent soon. If you do, you have yourself to blame.
It is better to ensure the longevity of your vehicle rather than cut short their longevity by taking them to garages that can cause great damages to your vehicles.
In our (Toyota) garages, there is what we call warrantee. Do not lose this opportunity by taking your vehicles to unauthorized garages. My word to you is: “Be wise: Patronize Authorized garages of Toyota.”
I’ve talked to you as somebody of several years of experience.
Motoring World’s Comment: Isn’t this what politicians should be telling Nigerians, rather than playing their crappy and self-serving games against the lives of the people, who voted them into power and even the future generations of the beautiful and naturally blessed nation called Nigeria?
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