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Nigeria: The Sword of Truth By D. Akinsanya Juliuson
“I search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give everyman according to his ways; According to the fruit of his doings. As a partridge that broods but does not hatch, So is he who plunders or gets riches, but not by right, it will leave him in the midst of his days. And at his end he will be a fool.” – The Most High.
The road to heaven they say is paved with bad intentions. If that's the case, then, it must be or the road to hell would not be paved with good ones. Unless of course, heaven and hell are in exactly the same place? Then, that road would indeed lead to both destinations. And how on earth would we know which of the two we had arrived at? Perhaps we wouldn't. Perhaps what we really need to do is cut through ambiguity and take a stand. Why? Well! Welcome to the world that we live in. An instant, just add-water, push-a-button, microwaveable-under-three-minutes, zap-the-remote-control kind of a polluted world. Not everything about it is good. Too often, we lose our appreciation for essential natural processes that need to happen slowly. We look for ways to hurry them- just as we look for ways to de-personalize the injustices we can see yet seemingly cannot influence. I so much believe that, something will surely soon put us back in touch with the nicest part of reality. We must allow our hope the time it needs.
Many people say we are creatures of instinct and not intellect. But many Nigerians are analytical. We have what is called stratospheric IQ that we use to great effect. However, we still can't stop ourselves from sulking every so often. This to me is something to be proud of. It proves that we are not unemotional robots, but a people of passion. Our feelings are a big part of what makes us so very human and special. Yet, it's funny really. We can't even get a Nigerian man on the moon without ever wondering whether or not we really got him there. This may be an age of miracles, but it is also a time of intense mistrust. An era of harass and release policy. Distortion is now order of the day. Bribe is conveniently demanded by many service providers without actually providing services for the people. We are never sure quite who to believe or what to have faith in anymore. As soon as we overcome our cynicism and take a leap of faith, some doubting Thomas tries to distract us mid-jump. I sincerely believe we are capable of reaching the stars in this country of ours, yet we always somehow feel suspicious of our spaceship.
Nigeria: What do I stand for? So is it true that, there's safety in numbers? Perhaps so! There's also stupidity. Let's think of the millions who have spent their hard earned money on atrocious clothes, practitioners of the oldest profession (society ladies), or appalling recordings, all in the name of fashion, enjoyment and cheap publicity. Let's also consider the hordes that faithfully flock to vote for their “preferred” politician or political party, only to be rewarded by a string of mediocre performances by incompetently confused, plunderers and egos cum politicians and broken promises. Nowadays, all we hear people say is, 'to know where I stand.' Is that supposed to be a reasonable request? No! Where we stand depends sometimes, if not all the time, on where we care to see ourselves as standing. We live in an uncertain world - if we haven't got a clue where we came from after 48 years of independence and we have no idea where we are going, how on earth can we really be sure where we are right now? That's anyone's guess. That's why the people, who assume the greatest air of authority, end up being believed. Nigerians! Why give away our power? Why allow clueless, incompetent plunderers to define our position? Let's not ask,' Where do we stand' or ' where do I stand, anymore? Let's start asking instead, 'What do I stand for?' Then everything will become clear, and, that my beloved brothers and sisters is the truth.
So often, we underestimate our power. We think of ourselves as small and extremely weak. Helpless and hopeless. In some situations, against some adversaries, these feelings may be relevant. But where is the monster in our world now? What in the world does it look like? Does it have actual teeth or just painted cardboard fangs? Is that really a roar or is it just playing a very loud tape-recording? Is it breathing true smoke or just nervously puffing on a Benson & Hedges? I say there's no need to be afraid of it. It is afraid of us. Some rules were made to be broken. Others were not. If we don't know what the rules are, we can't tell when we are living by them and when we are flouting them. That though may sound fine, but unfortunately it also means we can't tell which laws we may be able to get away with contravening and which are there for a very good reason. Rules, one way or another, are taking up the bulk of our attention. There are some that we simply can not live by anymore in this country and that includes the worthless constitution. My people! I say it is time to shred that constitution and break those rules. But the right way.
Sometimes, when we ask questions, we beg an answer. We oblige someone to say something negative when, if we had just simply gone ahead and acted without consultation, they might have had a positive response. 'No', generally speaking, is a much easier and safer word to use than 'Yes'. What are we supposed to do when we suspect that permission, if requested, will be denied, yet, if we just go ahead without asking, we will probably be thanked? That entirely depends on how good our judgement is and on how deeply we understand the intricacies of a complex situation. There will always be some unanswered questions. There will always be doubts and misgivings. There will always be arguments for and against and there will always be the possibility that we are making a mistake. So....given all this, should we sit on the fence? Hedge our bets? Keep our options open? Not if we want progress. Not if we want to avoid being swept away on an ocean of indecision.
This is not a time for being careful, it is a time for showing strength. It's obvious we are not where we used to be. We are though passing scenery that we recognise. So how then can we have moved on? Because the town we are travelling through has been designed along similar lines to the one we used to know. Road layouts have been copied. Some buildings have been transported, brick by brick. Even so, it's not the same place. It can't trap us. It doesn't belong to us - or we to it. Right now we must allow our sense of recognition to foster a sense of confidence, not despair. I sincerely believe that the key to success in our country has been hidden. Where? That is the clever thing. To prevent the keys from falling into the wrong hands, it is important to put them in unexpected positions - places where the inappropriate individuals would never think of looking. Thus, the key to success and productivity in Nigeria's case now has been intelligently positioned by the side of the road to failure. How far down it? About as far as we have recently travelled in a seemingly unsuccessful venture.
The Pit of Our Misery: So three cheers for misery. Let's hear it for hardship. My people, ladies and gentlemen, put your hands together please for 'suffering! And there's more, much more, in all our all-star show. Please give a nice warm welcome to the one, the only 'Fear!'. And, topping our bill, an star-studded super-group, the incredible: 'Worry, Ills, Angst and Wrong!. I say unless we really feel that we want to spend the rest of our future and the future of our children being entertained by a line up like this, let's remember please: Entrance to the auditorium is entirely optional. It is time to stop trying to make sense of what's happening in our country. There aren't enough hours a day or days in a lifetime to subject the situation in our country to sufficient analysis. The more we dwell on what has taken place, the more we will live in the past. This will prevent us from seizing our current, amazing opportunity to positively transform the future of our country. It will also prevent us from moving on. We need to keep our wits about us and maintain an open mind. The more we seek explanation, the more we will be trying to superimpose a pattern of expectation, the more we will set off circumstances that are effectively evolving in their own, chaotic, yet, extremely constructive way.
In this country of ours, people have the tendency to believe whatsoever on earth they want to believe, especially when it is an extremely convenient thing to believe. Once a person has a deep believe, they can communicate it with convincing sincerity, regardless of how misplaced it may be, if presented with clear evidence to contradict the belief, they are more likely to look puzzled, act hurt or seek another explanation rather than say sorry or, ‘Whoops, I was wrong! Life, lately, has begun to resemble one of those crazy, students-for-charity challenges where people dress in strange costumes and then attempt to run up slippery slopes whilst juggling eggs and singing Arise O Compatriots. It has had that same edge of near-impossibility, although, it has not been quite so amusing. We (Nigerians) have had to concentrate hard, just to avoid falling flat on our faces. We are beginning to feel a little as if all the really good, genuine and selfless people have gone away and left us in the hands of some cold, truly dreadfully, confused characters. Who can we talk to? Who will understand? Who on earth will care? Are we about to be pleasantly surprised? We have had our doubts about a certain group of MISTAKES and we have begun to wonder whether they will ever get it right.
Corruption in Nigeria’s criminal justice system is really devastating the legal and institutional mechanism designed to curb corruption and transnational organized crime. The question now is how on earth it will serve any purpose to blindly design and implement anti-corruption programmes and even laws if the Nigerian Police (Though poorly paid) do not seek to enforce it and the tribunal judges find it so very easy to be bribed. There’s Human Rights Commission and yet Nigerians don’t even know their rights (That’s if they have any). A great song could easily make a bad singer a star. A great programme, a good system of government, a brand new constitution, an excellent team of diplomatic corps and a unique team of qualified and competent commercial diplomats could make Nigeria one of the best in the world. To be the true leader in Africa, we must work towards making judicial integrity the cornerstone of the anti-corruption with the participation of real local people including students, the minority and the lawmakers.
Like I said before, safeguarding the rights of others is the most noble and beautiful end of a human being. Why on earth would any of us argue with this? Only, perhaps if we have done our bit to honour others' entitlements yet felt our own to be cruelly undermined. Do, though, two wrongs ever make a right? What choice does an HONORABLE person have, other than to act impeccably no matter how great the temptation to emulate a bad example or make unrighteous laws? These are the people who swore to the same God Almighty who said “Woe to those who decree unrighteous decrees; who write misfortune, which they have prescribed, to rob the needy of justice, and to take what is right from the poor of My people; That widows may be their prey, And that they may rob the fatherless. What will you do in the day of punishment, and in the desolation which will come from afar?” I surely believe we (Nigerians) can make a difference in this world. We can deny safe haven to the corrupt and eliminate the worst forms of child labour. We can eliminate all forms of discrimination against women and take action against HIV/AIDS. We can combat child trafficking; realize the rights of persons with disabilities, elderly persons and Nigerian children. We can respect our leaders and show that we appreciate their contributions to Nigeria no matter how little; We can protect the integrity of Nigerian judges and lawyers and curb corruption in public procurement. We can get results through innovation and leadership. We can make the world go round without having to go round with it. We can succeed where others have failed.
Some people really are too clever for their own good. They plan for eventualities that are never going to happen. They ask questions that really can't be answered - and which don't need to be answered, anyway. They take nothing at face value. They leave nothing to trust. They feel that everything must be anticipated and legislated for. However, now, they are thinking much more than they need to. They are tying themselves up in knots. Nigerians! Let’s be smart. Smart enough to realize that fate is on our side. One more thing. The future of our country. I so much believe, we can change minds, open doors, heal wounds and rally support. Our ability to win friends and influence people is still strong. We must remember that only honesty, discipline, transparency, good leadership and wisdom that govern power will often achieve what assertiveness can never accomplish. Let's all think of a positive way to say what we need to. Make our proposition sound encouraging, rather than challenging, and we'll find that even our fiercest critics who believe that, Nigeria is now like a breach ready to fall. A bulge in a high wall, that’s breaking comes suddenly, in an instant, start to eat out of our hands.
If we stop blackmailing each other in the name of jealousy, greed and hatred; If we invest in our graduates, who are our future leaders, instead of sexually molesting them in the name of power and ego; If our banks stop prostituting Nigerian graduates because of their lack of choice which always lead to more lack of choice; If our government start to appreciate true talent and expertise; If we (Nigerians) learn to stand up for ourselves by doing unto others what we would like others to do unto us; If our politicians and our ambassadors can rid themselves of their low self esteem, lack of confidence, colonial mentality and ego which always prevent them from being able to network with other foreign practitioners, and or attend major forums, debates and or diplomatic conferences, then we surely can get results.
From tiny acorns, mighty oaks do grow.' So they do. That's pretty impressive, especially when we stop to consider what an acorn looks like, and what an oak tree is. Easily forgotten in this tale of transformation is the amount of time that must pass before that little nut becomes a towering tree. How long will we have to wait till our current efforts in this blessed country bring us a pleasing result? Not as long as a forester but just a bit longer than the next few days. Nobody, not even the most conventional advocate of allopathic medicine would argue against the existence of a psychosomatic factor in the healing process. All agree that a happy frame of mind will aid recovery. But to what extent? A little? Or, as some complementary therapists would insist, by a lot? What does it matter? If something is wrong and we can do even the slightest thing to make it better, why would we not do that? There's something we (Nigerians) can do now. Whether it's big or small, let’s start doing it. If everything really is predestined, what does that make us? Robots? Puppets? Why waste all that mental energy trying to reach decisions? Why eat up all those emotional reserves on worry? If nothing we can do will make a difference, we may as well just do nothing. However, we can make a difference. Ah, but it isn't all set in stone. The choices we make today will have a big impact on the way our future, the future of the next generation and the future of our country turn out. I say it is time we open our eyes, seek God and choose a blessed tree that will never rot, because, things are about to naturally alter.
D. Akinsanya Juliuson C. Dipl
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