Nigeria: The truth that's often forgotten
“When I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die, and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life, that same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand.
‘Yet, if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul . ‘Again, when a righteous man turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity or plunders the weak and powerless, and I lay a stumbling block before him, he shall die, because you did not give him warning, he shall die in his sin against the weak, and oppressed, and his righteousness which he has done shall never be remembered, but his blood I will require at your hand. Nevertheless if you warn the righteous man that the righteous should not plunder or oppress the weak and powerless, and he does not plunder or oppress the weak and powerless, he shall surely live because he took warning, also you will have delivered your soul.”
- The Most High, in whose name they plunder
Leadership – Walking in no man’s shadow
We must come back to the earth, time and time again. So say some philosophers. ’Time, they point out ‘is infinite; so how else are we going to fill it up?’ ‘Easily, ‘say their intellectual adversaries’ we can spend the whole of the rest of eternity replaying the videotape of our current existence. By the time we get from here to forever, we may finally understand what it has all been about and whether our so called mistakes really were errors. If we are on a high, we can rest assured that something, sooner rather than later, will knock us off our perch. If we are at low ebb, we must know that it is only a matter of time before we rise up again – if only to a certain extent. We are on an up now in this country and how far we go largely depends on how bravely we reach. There is at present a situation in our country that we feel keen to change or control. Trust me we won’t change what’s happening one way or another. We may though, change something in the way that we look at it. However, may we not expect Satan to be able to cast out Satan and or the kingdom that’s already divided against itself to stand. We must never expect a house which is already divided against itself or a divided Satan, who has risen up against itself to stand. Trust me when I say, much sooner rather than later the game of fools will surely end and WAI will triumph.
In life, some pictures are easy on the eye. They do not stretch the intellect or oblige the viewer to think. They are just simple arrangements of light and shade forming familiar, attractive shapes. It’s the same with books or plays and pieces of music. Some are light, some are weighty. It is not that one type is good and the other is bad. Naturally, we need both or our lives soon become unbalanced. Nigerians are currently going (as usual) through a challenging time. Well! Let’s not resent it; but allow it, while it lasts, at least as students of the University of Life, to teach us something valuable. It is obvious that, the system never worked as it is not working now in the way that we want to. We feel frustrated yet sometimes, when we travel from one place to another, we take a rather ridiculous and absurd route. We go the way that suits the train, plane or even bus company. Or we drive according to some old ridiculous habit. We go the way we have always gone, because we never stop to wonder whether there might be a shorter, faster, sensible and smarter way. As with roads, so is with arrangements.
In our beloved nation today, some people get very annoyed when they see or hear a sentence like ‘And they all lived happily ever after’. They say, ‘let’s for the love of God be realistic here, nobody lives happily ever after in this country.’ But, then let’s just think for a moment about the nature of people. What do they love to do? Why, complain, of course! Now, let’s ask ourselves, how on earth can they possibly complain unless they are unhappy? And if they truly enjoy complaining, they must be happy about being unhappy, right? Sometimes, the bluebird of happiness alights gently on our shoulder. Sometimes, it has to beat and flap its wings outside our window. It wants to be let in so it makes a mighty fuss. Yet we find this rather off-putting. We fear that some dark vulture is trying to make its way towards us, or WAI is coming back with a vengeance and set us free at last, so instead of throwing our window open, we jam the damn thing tightly shut.
Howling winds. Raging storms. Grey skies. Blue skies. Refreshing showers. Gentle breezes. Damn it! Nature is so changeable….and guess what? So are we who live under a heaven and over the planet called earth. We all are a part of nature and nature has more of an impact on our own inner-nature than we realise. To be a conscious human being is to recognise this – but also, somehow, to try and stand above it. We can go entirely with what we feel right now in this country or we can exercise our rare and precious ability to think – and be objective. We surely have a choice and we better be wise. In life, they say, ‘money can’t buy you love’. It can not buy you true friends, true leaders or wisdom, but it can get you a better class of enemy and nightmare! If this is true, and if it is also true that many enemies start out as friends, perhaps money can buy friendship and or leadership – of a kind (and even plenty). Perhaps it can even purchase a shallow, temporary form of something that might be mistaken for true love, true leadership and friendship. But one thing it can never buy is wisdom. If love that money can’t buy has so much power and influence that it makes the world go round, why is everyone so interested in money? If we are here on earth to share happiness and love as proven by great Chief Obafemi Awolowo and his worthy disciples, why are so many of us miserable? If we truly want peace and harmony, why do we argue, bear grudges, and oppress each other? In our country today, there is a distinct difference between an 'official stated position' and the obvious day-to-day reality. It's easier to believe that things really are the way they are being painted. That can't be true. The faster a reality is recognised in our country now, the better off we will be.
The Patience Suckers. The Timewasters
‘Those whom the god’s wish to destroy, they first make mad’. Great scholars like Euripides probably know more about how he thought those gods created the state of insanity. But we don’t really need an expert in ancient language to hazard a pretty good guess. Wanna drive someone round the twist? just get them to think too long and hard about a topic that will never make sense, no matter what angle you come at it from. Our challenge in this country now is to avoid getting caught up in an endless loop. Any fool can turn a blind eye to reality. It takes a special kind of visionless idiot though, to ignore the Nigerian dream. We (the minority) are just not that crazy. We can not possibly forget about the great hope and decent vision we hold so dear. May be it is a fantasy, but we the minority feel an overwhelming urge to pursue the dream of a greater, better and world-class nation. That very slight chance of success is enough to put fire in our bellies and enthusiasm in our hearts. If we embrace Justice Mohammed Uwais report and adopt Anthony Enahoro’s vision of a better Nigeria with people’s parliament today, I promise you, the two combined together will bless our nation with this priceless commodity and not a bunch of confused clueless mistakes. This is obviously the truth that’s often forgotten. However we might or might not be able to get exactly what we want, I believe we will at least by God discover that trying is rewarding in its own right.
In situations where there is “no choice”, amazing things happen. People become able to do things that normally, they would see as way beyond their powers. Changes which have needed to take place, take place – simply because they have to. We may enjoy such scenarios. They force matters to a conclusion. They remove the need for endless debate. Right now, as said, there is a choice. Unless, of course, we choose to push things to the point where there no longer is a choice. That’s our prerogative. There are times when it can seem as if the simplest task involves wading through treacle and fighting our way over a mountain of critics, opponents or obstructions. We then rapidly forget how enjoyable and easy other experiences have been. I only mention this because, as I’m sure we have noticed, things are starting to get a little tricky in this country. Whatsoever on earth that’s going on is having a debilitating effect (as usual). Our strength is being sapped and our patience is being tested. At the risk of making Nigerians into some well known fools, I must be honest and say that things may well get a little (if not terribly) worse before they get better soon. But they will one day get better, this I believe.
Nigerians the world over have thought, long and hard enough about a particular matter. Why then, do we continue to contemplate it? Are we just going round in circles? Like dogs, chasing their own tails? Or are we more like great detectives reconsidering the same clues until we reach a more convincing conclusion? There is an easy way to tell. How emotionally and or psychologically charged do we feel? Are we full of feeling or are we thinking carefully? With the aid of the Justice Uwais Committee’s Report supported by Chief Anthony Enahoro’s vision, we surely can now arrive at a very intelligent new insight. So here comes a rewarding, auspicious and benevolent period, that, we must capitalise on. My message? “IT’S ALL GONNA BE OK”. Not ‘all’ though. We are Nigerians after all. We’ve always got some bone of contention to gnaw on or some permanent injustice to campaign against. But that’s not a thing to apologise for. No! Not at all. We all know that, it’s only when we find ourselves not enjoying a fight that we wish we weren’t having one.
Once, the motto of journalists and politicians alike was “never apologise, never explain”. Indeed, all clueless people in power seemed to adopt this philosophy. If a mistake was made or a grand fraud was detected, and it could not be completely covered up, it was swiftly admitted to. But then no further reference was made. ‘Least said, soonest mended’ was the idea. That was the way they did things in the 20 th Century. I welcome you all to the world of Nigeria, a different world that we live in. Right now, a more honest, transparent, realistic and meaningful review, discussion, debate followed by action need to take place in this country. Like I said before, we don’t need a new rule in our world and our nation now. All we need is enough inspiration, integrity, courage and wisdom to change the way an old one is being enforced.
We all know that, finding fault in this country is like shooting pheasants. Not exactly difficult! They are silly birds with an amazing propensity to put themselves in harm’s way. There is much more skill involved in NOT hurting a pheasant, though, especially if you happen to be driving down a country road. As for fault. Well, none of us ever has to look hard for that. There is far more art in identifying things that are truly worthy of praise. There is nothing especially clever about criticism. So, let’s not take criticism too seriously now as we have always done. We know what we know. As for what we don’t know? Well, we don’t know it, do we? So far, so simple. The trouble is, sometimes, we think we know what we don’t really know at all. Sometimes, too, we know something, yet for some strange reason, we don’t really know that we know it! Only when our knowledge is put to the test, do we discover how far it extends. We would now like to know a lot more than we currently know. Let’s however, begin by asking ourselves whether, inwardly, we do know a lot already.
Importance of selfless leaders
Experience they say is the best teacher. People can tell us plenty….and, given half a chance, they always will. Often, they are not talking from their own experience…..or they are, but they have gained that experience under conditions that differ from our own. So, even when we do our best to seek advice, we can never be sure how reliable that imput is. Wehave for now, got what we need, once again, thanks to Justice Uwais and Chief Anthony Enahoro’s visions. Have we, though, also got what we want? Well, that depends whether we want what we need. One thing is sure, though. We need to want what we need or think we need! So, let’s try wanting what we don’t think we really want. If I’m right, and we really do need this, our initial resistance will turn to appreciation (the legal tender that all souls enjoy) and enthusiasm. We won’t look at what we’ve got and find it wanting. We’ll begin to understand why we need it, what’s so good about it and why we are so glad that these leaders made the efforts.
The double edge thing
What is this? What does it mean? Where does it leave us? These are not easy questions to answer. Happily though, they do not need answering yet. There’s something very wonderful happening now. There’s also a danger of some kind. We can feel it – and we have our suspicions about what it might be. Those suspicions, for the time being, are all we require. Let’s not let them grow any bigger than they already are. Let’s be willing to have them allayed. We all know that, in life when people do things differently; they are either reviled or revered. Heroes often invoke hostility. Rebels regularly evoke reverence. Yet it can all turn on a sixpence. One moment applause – the next opprobrium. These leaders and many others can not allow themselves any reason, now, for being brave and unconventional other than their own need to do what’s right for the oppressed and powerless people of Nigeria. If these reports meet with the minority’s approval, it will never matter who else endorses it. The reports will surely get all the support that they need.
One man’s ceiling may be another man’s floor; one woman’s exquisite perfume may be another’s unbearable pong; one dog’s dinner may be a budgerigar’s poison; different strokes may be for different folks or call it an ill wind that blows nobody any good. Etcetera. Our own view of Justice Uwais Report is obviously not shared by everyone else and Chief Anthony Enahoro’s selfless vision is too good for a nation like Nigeria. Who’s right? Why, we are. And they are. It depends on how we look at it. I recommend we the minority, look at it our own way. One thing we must understand is that, doubts are like flowers. They blossom surprisingly swiftly. One moment we have only the bud of a minor misgiving. The next, a glorious display of vivid, colourful confusion. Its heady, intoxicating aroma makes us unable to notice anything else. And then, no matter how much we water the plant with anxiety and tension, a little time passes by. As it does, the bloom begins to fade. Much sooner it is a shadow of its former self. As we speak, its obvious that, a fear is beginning to wither on the vine. Well, about time too!
The way of the wicked world
In this pretend like you are not pretending nation of ours, a nation where the nail that stands out gets hammered, people rarely say exactly what they mean. In theory, we all speak the same language. In practice, well, we all require a permanent, full-time translator. A hidden-agenda-detector. A between-the-lines-tracer. What is the secret subtext to the conversation that we Nigerians keep having? What is being implied but not acknowledged? If only we could hear what was really in the back of certain MISTAKES’ minds. We must try letting those who represent their pockets and not you and I know exactly what is in the back of our own minds. That should do the trick. Right now, we can be as impassioned and impulsive as we wish – and get clean away with it! We have all done enough thinking, for the time being, at least. Now, we need to follow through on what we feel.
As said before, people may love to construct complicated arguments and convulsed explanations; they may like to make things seem so difficult and involved; they may have plenty of good reasons why problems can never be solved or wounds can never be healed; they may like to talk, but not much like to listen. They may even like to nurse grudges, but not seem quite so inclined to forgive. That must never be allowed to be our world, because, it is the way of the wicked world. Let’s all remember, there is just as much wisdom in the house of the heart as there is in the mansion of the soul. May the Most High bless us with a world where love and friendship are an everyday occurrence; where sorrow and grief are no longer our permanent gifts, and above all may the Sword never pass through our houses and our lives. Peace Profound.
D. Akinsanya Juliuson C. Dipl
Don't be an ostrich. Take your head out of the sand and look at what's really going on. If you do this, you will start to see constructive solutions instead of just reasons to become ever more anxious. Don't be a donkey. Stop following imaginary carrots and fleeing from non-existent sticks. Don't be a butterfly either. Don't flit from topic to topic whilst ignoring the issues that matter most of all. Be yourself, seek wisdom and be proud of who you really are - yourself. As long as you are brave, you will make wise choices in life.
D. Akinsanya Juliuson C. Dipl
