Devious Double Standard

Double Standard simply means applying one set of rule to Situation A and applying a different, often opposite, set of rules to that same Situation A simply because different people or situations are involved. Always, it is a self serving choice.

With respect to the attitude of America and European powers to the rest of the world, there are uncountable examples. While claiming champions of Democracy, Liberty and Human Rights, their very own declassified documents will shamelessly reveal to you how they killed Bob Marley through poisoning; will reveal how they overthrew, killed and dissolved the body of a democratically elected President with acid; how they invaded a country against United Nations stand and overthrew and killed its President for a lie that he has weapons of mass destructions….  and so on and so forth ad infinitum.

Unlike most of Asia that have found their historical bearing and made their independent sustainable development choices why the leaders of the other so called “Third World” countries – in Africa and Latin America – continue to cling to and do the biddings of the persons and institutions (like World Bank and IMF) of America and Europe is truly perplexing. If a man comes into your home, rapes your wife and daughter, kills one of your two sons that tries to resist, and reigns over you for decades before you finds a way to send him away through huge sacrifices, hard work and prayers; if such a man comes back as a friend with “friendly” advice on “human rights” and how to advance the economy and welfare of your family, how should you relate with him? It is symptomatic of an incomprehensible mind disease that our ruling elites treat them as Big Boss and trustworthy guardians!

READ: OBSERVATION: Be A Spectator At Your Own Peril

It is plain fact attested to even by the head of government that Nigeria is going through its worst ever cost of living crises – and unprecedented hardship occasioned by the choices of policies of the current government. Even when those that caused the traumatic crises keep excusing themselves and pleading for time for the hardship to deliver its sweet “fruits”, the World Bank’s Chief Economist, Indermit Gill, was praising the policy choices at the Nigeria Economic Summit Group gathering in Abuja last October, and admonishing the government “to stay the course” of the harsh policies for at least 10 to 15 more years! 

The Yoruba have a saying that roughly translates to the fact that “the dog knows well how to breastfeed its own puppies but on the other hand, devours those of the rats.” During the Covid 19 Pandemic, which trauma and hardship was not occasioned by any direct policy of the American government, the USA government instituted such a wide range of palliatives to the American commoners, which space will not permit us to list here! Even as at today, 2024, when it is not experiencing any cost of living crises, America sustains a range of astonishing subsidies to make American lives easier – The Low Income Subsidy Enrolment; Inflation Reduction Act; American Subsidies for American Autos Act of 2024; etc, etc.

Devious double standards have been the consistent policy of the Western powers in their relationship to the rest of the world from time immemorial. One good instance is the Cuban Missile Crisis of October 1962 compared with the contemporary Russian-Ukraine War. America could not stand Cuba being in military alliance with then Soviet Union and having cruise missiles located on Cuban soil next door to it. Accordingly, they occasioned a crisis that dangerously brought the two superpowers close to nuclear confrontation – forcing Soviet Union to withdraw its missiles from Cuba. On the other hand, today, it encourages Ukraine, a former member of the then Soviet Union and next door neighbor to Russia to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) such that America and the West will install their military bases next door to Russia, and they expect Russia to accept it because it is the rights of Ukraine as a sovereign nation; which means Cuba was not a sovereign nation in 1962 and not entitled to such rights!

It is time for patriots of Africa and Latin America to wake up from their slumber. Asia did not do any strange miracle other than simply standing up for itself through great leadership and dedicated citizenry. African and Latin American patriots need to commence doing whatever needed be done, legitimately and democratically, to oust Western despots and ensure that kind of visionary, incorruptible, patriotic leadership across governments. After decades of lip services and inaction, as Murtala Muhammed said, “it is time to reflect, to rethink, and to act!” 

The opinions expressed in this publication are solely those of the author. It does not represent the editorial position or opinion of OSUN DEFENDER.