I conceived this post during a walk, almost like a monologue. Away with formalities, I’ll get straight to the heart of the matter, driven by the mood that engulfs me.
My Fellow Zoogerians, like the oppressors would say — Over a year into the current administration, the place have witnessed a gestation of relentless poverty. The economy teeters on the brink of collapse, the naira has become a ghost of its former self, and the litany of woes continues unabated.
My fascination with history compels me to delve into how we arrived at this juncture. The narratives we are fed are often marinated in deceit to suit the storyteller’s agenda. One observation that strikes me is the erosion of our individual strength over time. Comparing the strides from the 1950s to today is futile, but what stands out is the mass lobotomization we have undergone. We have been seduced by religion, tribalism, nepotism, and more. Racism is not even in the conversation here; this is black-on-black crime.
Tribalism: Proximity to Power Is Not Power
Whoever coined this phrase ought to be arrested. Tribalism did not emerge in this century of course; it is an ancient ailment. The insidious nature of prejudice is such that, given time, it can manifest your fears into perceived reality. Your bias becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy, turning good into bad, providing a false sense of vindication.
Tribalism is a principal culprit behind Nigeria’s current plight. Politicians exploit this, demagogues that they are, leveraging the prejudices of the ordinary man to craft their winning narrative. Yet, people fail to see that this is not a battle of tribes. The struggle against bad governance is universal, but we are too blinded by farce to recognize this. Consider the recurring ASUU strikes, affecting tertiary institutions nationwide. The most recent one dragged on for over six months, with no regional exceptions. From north to south, every student felt its impact. Young people in their early twenties were confined to their homes, awaiting resolution. This forced them to either acquire a skill, become a social media nuisance—often on Twitter, defending those who wronged them — or find a job. The latter is rarely feasible without transferable skills. It baffles me how the youth don’t perceive this as a deliberate ploy. Even the 4-5 years spent in school are almost wasted. Lecturers, often subpar, engage in licentiousness, bribery, debauchery, and perpetuate archaic curricula. I speak from experience, having endured five harrowing years in such a system.
Lobotomy — The systematic impairment of mental function. The irony is palpable; an unstable person seldom acknowledges their instability. The degradation of our academic institutions is intentional. A rational person would introspect, evaluating our state. Despite having your tribesmen in power, you reap no benefits. Is proximity to power actually power? Self-interest is natural, but at what point do you call out the charade?
Religion: Thou Shall not Sin
I was raised in a Christian household. My father, skeptical of churches, nonetheless upheld Christian values. We followed my mother to church events diligently. I hold no grudge against Christianity; in fact, I admire its ethical framework. It teaches love, non-violence, and integrity. Yet, when too much power is vested in clergy, purportedly intermediaries with God, problems arise.
The Igbo man’s belief in decentralized governance reflects in their sociopolitical structures, where decisions are collective, emphasizing consultation and consensus. Historically, Igbo society operated through councils of elders, age grades, and other groups, ensuring no single individual wielded absolute power. This balanced approach mitigated abuse of authority.
Back to Religion — Humans, regardless of attempts to idealize them, are flawed. There is bribery and bias. Yet, the adage "touch not my anointed" is invoked when criticizing clergy. It’s as if questioning ordained figures is taboo, despite their visible biases. The recent election saw prominent "men of God" endorsing a candidate fraught with controversies, simply because of personal affiliations. The country is in disarray, yet we defer to these endorsements. Does God deceive? of course not, i would chant. So is your pastor ordained or a con artist?
It’s a Human Problem
One lesson I’ve learned is separating spirituality from human affairs. A visa application is a human issue — alongside a ton of other issues we slap spirituality to. A bureaucrat evaluates your documents and decides your fate based on criteria. Meeting the requirements almost guarantees approval. Yet, in underdeveloped regions sin qua non; Nigeria, pervasive negative energy complicates even simple processes. Daily stresses accumulate, starting at home: a husband argues with his wife over unpaid school fees. En route to the bus stop, he encounters a rude biker. As he walks, someone splashes water on him. By the time he reaches work, he is a reservoir of frustration, ready to discharge it onto the next person—in this case, you. He denies your visa application, not out of merit, but as a release of pent-up anger.
The Law of Conservation of Energy states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transferred. Similarly, negative energy in human interactions often gets transferred, perpetuating a cycle of negativity.
I realize this is becoming lengthy, and I have yet to address benevolence. But is there any benevolence? Yes, amnesia-induced benevolence. Daily, I see youths proclaiming their exhaustion with Nigeria. But are they truly angry, or just upset the metaphorical "national cake" hasn’t reached them yet? Time shall tell.
Amnesia-induced benevolence: the phenomenon where people overlook their oppressors' actions once given money or trivial gestures. This generation is lost. We lack the vocal strength, low attention span, often resort to humor in serious issues, then getting angry when things get tough, then repeating the cycle. Amnesia—the irony of a condition prevalent in septuagenarians afflicting the young.
I must end this rant here.