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One interesting Nigerian custom
that even a foreigner who stays in the country for at least one year
appreciates is that - whenever something is said or done nationally, (in
most cases) simply means the opposite.
When I first saw the news on Yar Adua’s
100 days ANNIVERSARY in office (in one of the national dailies), I was
really baffled, I started contemplating whether I have never got the
exact meaning of the word ‘anniversary’. This prompted me to quickly
search for the literal meaning of the word, and here is my finding:
According to the
Wikipedia
online dictionary:
An
anniversary
is a day that commemorates and/or celebrates a past event that occurred
on the same day of the year as the initial event.
Having gotten this clarification, I just
thanked God - at least for not been using the word in the wrong context,
except that the word celebration in the definition continued to
mystify me. Celebration - being associated with some kind of
enthusiasm, joy, jubilation...
I believe the count for the 100 days
started from the dawn of the Yar Adua administration (May 29, 2007).
That was after the ‘so-called’ April 2007 (general) elections. This
election, I can still remember, was the ‘worst’ ever conducted in the
history of our dear nation - the whole world has agreed on this. But
without feeling ashamed of the reality, the government and some
sycophants ventured in commemorating 100 days in office. I am afraid
they are going to celebrate 200 days Anniversary, 300 days, 400 days …
(just a multiple of a hundred, you know). They could be busy celebrating
until the end of the tenure.
If we were to assess the administration in
these 100 days in order to justify such celebration, we may perhaps say
we watched some ‘scenes’ which were ‘ACTED’ in ‘episode’ one (I mean
1999 to 2007). Though I am not too good in literature, I can still argue
that these scenes were to be (probably) concluded in the second episode
(2007 to 2011 or 2015 - I can not precisely say). It is a kind of a
sequel, a series of chronological episodes (call them whatever you
like). Whoever misses one scene, may not likely comprehend the next. (I
think I had rather watch a ‘Stage Drama’).
The (farewell) oil price hike (at the LAST
scene of episode one) and its reversal at (the beginning of) episode
two; the sell-off of the only few remaining oil refineries and the
subsequent attempt to revoke of the contract; the introduction of 1000
Naira note and its (intended) redenomination (at a particular scene in
episode two) … and lots more interesting scenes, which the keen watchers
of these episodes are busy enjoying.
All-said-and-done, the prices of cement,
kerosene etc. that were said to have been subsidized - remain as they
were in the markets. So that is why I became confused when I encountered
the word ‘celebration’ in the definition excerpted hitherto and
therefore do not see any reason for it in the Nigerian situation today.
The other probable reason for the
anniversary might be for the victory. But one would still wonder; is it
the ‘electoral robbery’ in April that is worth celebrating, or the gross
disenfranchisement? People were on the voting queue (in some places) at
around 3 pm when they were finally told that the ‘lose’ Presidential
ballot papers were finished, but those for Senators and the Federal
Representatives are still abundant (if one is still interested). To
crown it up, the almighty super-professor Iwu, went ahead to announce
the winner with allegedly 11 or 12 States’ result. This announcement I
still reminisce, was as destructive as any weapon of massive destruction
- ever invented to massacre the human race. The aftermath was loss of
faith in democracy by many Nigerians, loss of lives and properties, and
other victims of political violence. Quietly, I decided to keep my
voting register in a closet, so that one day (if God wishes), I may show
it to my children and grand children as the LAST voting register I used
(I mean the last time I ‘attempted’ to vote). By then, only God knows
how things are going to be. The 2003 election was worse than 1999, the
2007 was worse than 2003, the 2011 (by simple extrapolation or ‘rough’
projection) would probably be worse than 2007.
We seek God’s refuge on this ‘modern
slavery’ and ‘non-military dictatorship’.
Nura Nasir
writes from M/Murtrala Qtrs.
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