STRIKER: Nobody Will Take Us Seriously
In contemporary Nigeria, more than ever, it is a roller coaster from one objectionable scandal, ignoble show, detestable crime or dehumanising calamity to another, and to another and to another, without respite or perceivable end in sight. The routine is disaster. Of course, there are occasional but very infinitesimal reprieves of humanising episodes that give temporal joy and stave off insanity in the minority that have not lost it.
The sad reality is that the majority wear disordered mindset, depression, and mental illness as a gaily gown, impervious to human suffering and dehumanising realities, while the clowns and hustlers quickly cash in on most of the sordid events to reel out comic skits to people in pathetic situation.
It takes a mind elevated beyond the country’s numerous limitations to look plainly and appreciate the level of inhuman proceedings in Nigeria that beat any logical comprehension. I think the jewel on the crown of all absurdities in Nigeria is in the fitting but tragic analogy of a town where yams grow naturally, bountifully almost all over every piece of the land, but its elders cannot get its people to harvest them; they have to hire hands from other towns to help harvest, sell and collect all the money; and then they take the money in hand, looking around other towns for where to buy pounded yam, which is the life-giving meal of the town people.
Meanwhile, the town has at least four yam-pounding mortars and pestles that are in disuse but being repaired endlessly with huge money. In the world, you can imagine how sane people will look upon any citizen from that town – whenever any of them wanders into their own town where yams never grow but they still have pounded yam for sale!
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However, even the most pathetic, exasperating, and outrageous occurrences are quickly resolved into comedy. Do we need to go all the way back to “Diaris God o” concerning one of the most disagreeable occurrences in recent human history – the kidnapping of hundreds of Chibok school girls? No, we don’t. Almost every day in Nigeria supplies one of such and only few of the incidences make it into the public domain. Once the sordid occurs, there is rage, spontaneous and widespread outburst, panic, anger, or other such reactions as amidst the primitives. Then, very reaction dries out without intelligent follow up actions and the deed gradually fades away into the murky past, which past is consistently made to look relatively “better” by the latest disasters.
So it was with Fayose’s “I am in severe pains”; Dino’s certificate scandal; snake eating JAMB Money; Deborah’s Murder; the Abuja Preacher woman’s murder; and so on and so forth. In any decent nation, any one of such would be greeted with consequential indignation and authoritative action to deter recurrence. Not here. Let us leave out all stories of stealing of unbelievable amounts of money and eventual “freedom” to the inglorious actors and actresses; the most sickening is the announced “stealing” of 400,000 barrels of oil per day at some period of time.
Most recently, there was the arrest of Seun Anikulapo-Kuti for slapping an officer of the law. From the uproar, you will think something fundamental to reset the rule of law and deliver lasting lessons is about to happen. After a few days or weeks, the story is dead and the memory becomes comedy skits.
The same goes for cross dresser, Bobrisky – all the noise, trial, then in and out of jail for abusive handling of the Naira currency note but not the same in and out of jail for Cubana Chief Priest and many such others, for same offense; clear to the public but not clear to the justice system.
Same for Ex Governor Yahaya Bello: all the drama, sounds and fury, eventually signifying nothing; at least for now. Same for Budget padding and all the actors. Same for the Senate Chief Whip, his critical attention-calling to the health of the polity, the drama and the anti climax. Same for many, many, many such “stories” and “seasonal films.”
Like Fela Anikulapo Kuti of blessed memory said – “how many, how many you go many, many many…” But like he equally said, “One day go be one day.” Until that day, as we keep trivialising outrageous inhumanity deserving righteous indignation, no one will take us serious as a people deficit in honour and responsibility.
The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the author. They do not represent the opinions or views of OSUN DEFENDER.
