99 Days Of January

Not many will disagree with the belief that the month of January has 99 days in Nigeria. It is the month where some live in economic hardship and uncertainty, wishing the month-end will. come quickly.

From family heads to business owners and civil servants, the month of January has come to connote a period characterized by the impatience to move away from it. People like Mamman Awuje, a security guard in his early thirties who has a child and no other source of income told New National Star that to him, January is always the longest month of the year. The amount he spent during the December celebrations now affects him and he is yet to pay the school fees of his son.

“Yes, to me, I think January should be the longest month. It is not the number of days that makes it so but the hardship. A lot of spending has been done in December. I have not even paid my child’s school fees,” he said. December is full of celebrations. There is always some parties to attend, some functions to grace. Trips to the hometown are to be made, wedding receptions will be rampant, those abroad, living in countries with better Gross Domestic Products (GDP) than Nigeria, will come to visit and try to make an impression on family members. In short, party after party is an apt term to define the phenomenon. But these celebrations have strong economic consequences on the month that follows it, January. January becomes the black sheep that takes the blame for the poor choices of adults.

Detty December is a phrase that became popularised in December of 2018, which most young people used to emphasize the celebrations of the month. This phrase reemerged last December, although some were insistent that they would try as much as possible not to be reckless about money-wise decisions, it would seem that was wishful thinking. Uche had to deny himself the pleasure of visiting with his extended family to South-Eastern Nigeria because of the school fees he had to pay this month. “I have a family of three children. I have not paid their school fees but now I have already made provision for that. That is why I didn’t travel this festive period,” he said. It was easier in December of 2019, according to a cab driver.

He said, “ I travelled December 2019 though. It was easier to pay their school fees that year because I had enough.” 2020 was a year he experienced hardship and had to make the decision to suspend the yearly trip he made to his village in December. But some believe it is a matter of positivity and confession. And even when this theory falls apart they still hold on to it. A woman who withheld her name but sells yam and beans to the working class at Wuse 2l, Abuja said; “You know it is what you determine and wish for yourself that is what you will get. If you say this year, especially this January, it will be better for you, God will bless you the way you accept it and believe it.” When New National Star asked her if she had sorted her bills for the month of January though, she shook her head and answered in the negative. Her reason was that she travelled to her village which drilled a hole in her pocket. “I spent a lot in December. Especially during the trip. I am managing myself though. My children’s school fees that I haven’t paid worry me too,” said the mother of three. Despite the challenges posed by the month, she still insisted that January was not a hard or long month and was just as normal as other months in the year. But very few people subject themselves to optimism and positivity. Innocent Edikai, a shop attendant, said, “I believe January is the longest month of the year because most of the time people collect their salaries before the end of the year, some spend it before the month starts, so it makes the month long.” Edikai has a child who is about to begin schooling. He said that he had planned for his child’s fees and he is glad he could escape that burden.

The longest month of the year theory might also be applicable to people from one religion, Christianity, due to the fact that despite the fact that Christmas celebrations coincide with the end of the year celebrations, Muslims are able to escape the brunt of the expenses, like Ahmed Oladosu, who is a Yoruba Muslim. When asked if January is for him the longest month in the year he replied,” I am a Muslim and I do not celebrate Christmas. I don’t have children. I am not paying school fees. So for me, it is not stressful. This year’s January is just like last year, it is much like the same thing.

But the month after Ileya is like January for me.” Ileya or Id el Kabir is mostly celebrated in the month of July in Nigeria. Around this time, Yoruba Muslim faithful travel to their hometowns from all over the country to celebrate with their extended families. With the cost incurred during the celebrations, it will be justifiable to say the month of August is usually economically stringent especially for those who made bad money choices. Some respondents though, felt that one could be without a nuclear family during the holidays and still spend a lot of money on the extended family.

Micah, a cab driver in Abuja metropolis said that since his elder sister is a widow and his elder brother a widower, he has to lend financial support at intervals to make the burden lighter on them. He has never been married before but he is no stranger to the rigours of nuclear living. “January is hard o, even as I don’t have a family. My elder sister is a widow and my brother lost his wife. I even moved to Abuja because of them so I can support them.” In this year alone, within the first week, Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, trended on Twitter for his alleged scandalous affairs with women, the United States of America’s Capitol building was invaded by the rioters, Ghanaian parliamentarians exchanged blows, and popular cross-dresser, Bobrisky, was dragged online for giving advice to women.

January, the month that hosts the zodiac signs, Capricorn and Aquarius, has just 31 days like most months including December and July.