THE PARADOX OF TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY SAVAGERY

On December 31, 2012, while the world was enraptured with the prospect of ushering in the New Year, someone in Kogi state, Nigeria was busy scooping the brains out of his four-month-old son whom he had just murdered. Earlier in October of the same year, the nation was shaken by the gruesome murder of four promising undergraduates who were beaten to death and set ablaze over a minor disagreement. And just as I was contemplating this piece, news filtered in again – a man has set his pregnant sister-in-law ablaze for pouring water on his dog!

It’s amazing the indifference with which we have adjusted to the torrents of abominable incidents that assault our minds daily. News of carnage, acid treatments (or acid baths, if you like), ritual killings and other acts of brutish violence no longer have the sobering effect that they used to have. We claim to be the most civilized and technologically advanced generation of Homo sapiens on earth, yet savagery is at an all-time high. What a paradox!

Over the years, the West has made us believe that savagery is endemic to Africa but recent events, such as the frequency of indiscriminate shootings in America, have proved otherwise. According to US newspaper reports, at least sixteen mass shootings took place in America in 2012 alone. Similar incidents have been recorded in other parts of the Western world. Savagery then, is not limited to any geographical location; it only puts on the garb of the dominant culture and adapts itself to the prevailing circumstances wherever it is permitted to manifest.

A critical examination of the current trends all over the world reveals a fundamental problem – our value system, the set of personal principles, standards and beliefs in which we have an emotional investment.

The gory tales recounted above are fundamentally linked to a warped value system. The herbalist who scooped out his baby’s brains obviously valued power, his religious beliefs or whatever it was that prompted his action, over and above the life of his son. We can reach similar conclusions about the other incidents; all culprits have lost touch with a fundamental value – the sanctity of human life.

I understand that there may be other factors such as emotional pressure, financial hardship and a host of others that might seem to trigger such actions. The fact however remains that these other factors are merely accessory; the real cause has to do with our fundamental beliefs, our value system. It therefore goes without saying that if we are serious about meaningful change and sustainable development; we must start with a deliberate and systematic process of value reorientation.

No quick fix will get the job done; we must start from the foundation – our individual family units. The educational institutions, religious institutions, mass media and other agents of socialisation are only supposed to build on the foundation that has been laid by the family. Parents must commit themselves to a comprehensive process of child training that will help their children imbibe sound ethical principles.

If children are trained up in the right way, they will not become a menace as adults. This might seem farfetched but nothing less will yield lasting results. How else do we raise a new generation of refined, cultivated and civilized human beings if not by entrenching a new mindset in the younger generation? We’re not giving up on the Old Guard but we’re investing more in children and youths. This way, we can be sure that there are better days ahead even though today may seem dark and dreary. God bless Nigeria.

FAILED GOVERNMENT OR FAILING CITIZENS?

One of the easiest ways to gain popularity as a public analyst, social commentator or political observer in Nigeria today is to consistently harp on the ineptitude of the government and the resultant helplessness of the citizens. We blame the government for all our problems – insecurity, unemployment, high crime rate, ethnic violence, poor infrastructure, lack of basic amenities, dysfunctional educational system, failing health system and a host of others.

The vast majority of Nigerians are so disappointed with the government that they will readily utilise every platform to express their frustration; and really, who would blame them? Evidently, the government has consistently failed to fulfil the legitimate and most basic expectations of the citizens, such as the ones highlighted above – and that is very unfortunate.

The more unfortunate thing however, is that most of us have unconsciously submitted our lives and destinies to the government we claim not to believe in. We seem to have forgotten that the government will not run our lives for us. We have allowed poor performance on the part of the government to breed indifference in the way we live our lives and conduct our personal affairs. How many times have we failed to do what is right and blamed the consequences on the government?

We must realize that the most important things are not the things that the government will do for us. Many of us cannot sustain simple refined behaviour such as using the waste bin, staying on a queue, showing everyday courtesy and obeying traffic rules. We have not learned to nurture relationships and maintain disciplined lifestyles. A good number of us even find it difficult to flush the toilet after each use. Apparently, we expect the government to do that for us too. As outrageous as this may seem, those of us who have been at the receiving end know that it is true.

How many times have you crossed a neatly kept lawn instead of using the walkway? How many times have you thrown an empty can, bottle or sachet out of your car window instead of using the waste bin? How many times have you cheated in an examination or disobeyed traffic rules because no one is watching? How about crossing the highway on foot when the pedestrian bridge is available? Answering these questions and similar ones will help us assess our individual levels of personal responsibility. You see, personal responsibility is the most basic form of government and if we don’t get it right at this level, we cannot get it right at any level. It is true that the government has failed us, but should we continue to fail ourselves too? And really, who is the government, if not us?

It takes nothing to criticize, condemn and complain – anyone can do that. What if you decide instead, to make a difference in your own little way? You can fill up those gullies in your neighbourhood. You can raise funds to rebuild that run-down facility. You can volunteer your services to those disadvantaged students. You are not helpless; there is always something you can do. Desmond Tutu said it well, “Do your little bit of good where you are; it is those little bits of good that come together to overwhelm the world.” Now, read that again and think about it. You see, there is no better time than now to be a Nigerian; because in pitch darkness, even the faintest glimmer of light makes a world of difference. Stop complaining about the darkness and start shining your light.

God bless you. God bless Nigeria.

GOOD HUMOUR AT THE PRESIDENT’S EXPENSE

I have observed with some degree of amusement, the wave of criticism and outrage that greeted the ill-timed ignition of President Goodluck Jonathan’s 2015 political campaign machinery. The campaign message – One good term deserves another – is especially humorous. Although Mr President has dissociated himself from the presidential campaign posters which recently flooded Abuja, a lot of frayed nerves still need to be calmed. Our president seems to have a special knack for rubbing us the wrong way, wittingly or unwittingly, and this unusual trait has no doubt enhanced his “popularity” with Nigerians especially the younger generation. Dr Goodluck Jonathan’s popularity is such that he has become the butt of several jokes and unsavoury comments in various circles, especially on social media – and that is very disheartening.

Nigerians are indeed a special breed of people. We have seen so much gloom and doom that we have learnt to see the humour in every situation, regardless of how bad it is. And that is good for us as it has been proven both by ancient philosophy and modern medical science that a happy heart is good medicine and a cheerful mind works healing. It however becomes a problem when we make ourselves happy at the expense of someone else – and that is what we do when we deride our President. It is amazing that some people would actually go to great lengths as to deliberately circulate text, cartoons, animated pictures, videos and internet-based applications for no other reason than to make a joke of the President, and in some cases, his dear wife and other public officials.

Dr Goodluck Jonathan’s reputation has been so battered that his cronies have resorted to Google adverts and other outrageous strategies to redeem his image in public space. I have often found myself assuming the role of an advocate especially on Facebook, when these vituperative statements and jokes become so vitriolic that I simply can’t stand them. Now, I know that I’ll incur the wrath of some persons by taking this position but I believe that our President and other public officials deserve our honour and respect – and this is not contingent on their performance. We must understand that we live in a world that is governed by universal laws and what goes around comes around.

Contemporary history in our nation has shown that given the opportunity, the most vociferous critics will not necessarily perform better. Am I advocating for passivity? The answer is an emphatic No! I believe that we must hold the government accountable and express our grievances whenever necessary. But what if we explore more constructive means to air our views and vent our opinions? Do we always have to drag someone’s name in the mud each time we have to express our dissatisfaction with their actions or inactions?

It will do us a world of good individually and as a nation if each of us recognizes that behind the cloak of public office is a human being like ourselves who is as vulnerable as we are, to malicious words and vindictive remarks. We may not like the President, but that does not detract from the fact that we ought to be civil when addressing him or any human being for that matter. Someone else’s action or inaction is no excuse to throw caution to the winds, breaking ourselves against universal laws in the process. Each Nigerian must learn to think, speak and act right even when the other fellow is wrong. If we must have a better Nigeria, we must have better Nigerians. God bless the President! God bless Nigeria!

A passionate believer in the New Nigeria, Philip Amiola is a teacher, writer and social entrepreneur. He writes from Lagos, Nigeria. You can follow him on Twitter @Dermatoglyphics.