THE HOE IN THE HAND OF THE MADMAN AND THE CURRENT NARRATIVES

There is no doubt that it has been an exciting time in Nigeria. The instability that we can no longer deny is bringing out all shades of people from their closets, and there are now showing the true colors many of us have known them to be for a long time. Many seemingly watertight alliances are giving way to the realities of disappointments, self-interests, and divisions.

Before going too deep into the discussion, let me explain the relevance of the title. In the wisdom of our elders, no one is completely insane, in so far as they breathe and eat, no matter the kind of food and the circumstances of abode. Therefore, it is postulated that no one is entirely foolish to the extent that if presented an opportunity, he/she will know what to do with it. Further, the proverb explains the intractably selfish disposition of humans, no matter the circumstances in life. Therefore, the depiction of a mad man is premised on the fallacy that he has lost his senses completely. This argument may or may not contradict the current mental health imperatives that are often lumped together with madness in our clime. So, a madman, so to call, will most likely till the ground towards himself if given a hoe. This is a simple but profound statement about self-preservation as a natural law in nature.

Given the above, various narratives across the many divides in our supposedly beloved country can be properly interrogated. Also, this writer may not be completely unbiased in interpreting all these narratives given this title. Though we all know, presumably, that “ he who feels it knows it.” Nevertheless, humans’ inherent tendency is to find justifications for all actions and inactions.

Let us start with the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) agitations and the promptness of its labeling as a terrorist organization. The swiftness of this labeling should not rob us of the underlying hegemonistic imperatives by the power that be. While we may all agree that some of the methodologies of operations by IPOB may not pass the decency test, again, depending on which lenses through which we look at it, we should not be lost in the least, by the centrality of its messages. In a non-complicated narrative, the agitation responds to real marginalization that has unwittingly conferred on a country’s section, the Igbos, the second-class citizenship. Many attempts at drawing attention to the blatant injustices in lack of opportunity, more demanding conditions for even gaining admission into schools, and so many known discriminatory treatments that this group of people have to suffer since the conclusion of civil war, have always been dismissed as mere rants. Notwithstanding the abusive and uncouth languages usually deployed by the organization’s spokesperson, it is unfair to throw this baby of circumstance with the bathwater. Their grievances are as genuine as they can ever be.

Next, is the echo from the middle belts, ably represented by one of the class of 60s, General TY Danjuma, and the irrepressible Governor of Benue State, who saw beyond the philosophy of Ruga settlement, as more than the preservation of economics, but more as an army of occupation. His government resistance, which attracted both admiration and condemnation, depending on which sides of the divide you are operating from, shows that certain things are fundamentally wrong. How could a particular economic interest promotion become jeopardy to another economic interest, and we pretend all is well? How do the open grazing which leaves in its trail, the destruction of other people’s economic well-being, loss of lives, and dehumanizing rapes become beneficial or promote the fraud called national cohesion? Why should tolerance of others amount to the loss of lives for the ‘nice’ guys? Benue’s response has shown that all is not well.

The Igboho (Sunday Igboho) phenomenon drew and is still drawing attention to the response that is not dissimilar to what was expressed by the Governor of Benue State as stated above. How can the life of an investor, employing over 200 to work on his farm, be cheaply terminated just because he sought to find out the reason behind the fragrant encroachment of his farmland? The child of circumstance that Igboho has become may not have been necessary if the instruments of justice and fairness have been demonstrated in the very least. This is not considering that many of the heinous atrocities perpetrators may not be indigenous to Nigeria. Suppose many of these people committing crimes against humanity and reason are illegal aliens, to put it mildly. Whose only strength may indicate the ethnic affinity with the people in power. That they are overtly supported should be seen beyond the convenience of the dismissive conspiracy theories.

Nevertheless, up North, travels and traveling has become a nightmare of untold proportion recently. Many lives have been cut short in their primes, and many sources of livelihoods completely wiped out. The dehumanization of people through kidnaps, rapes, and other psychological trauma is also beyond comprehension. The so-called bandits, which by definition are considered criminals, have been courted and negotiated without consideration for the many victims, consequent upon their ‘unhindered’ activities. Farmers who dared go to their farms do so in trepidation. They paid to sow and even pay more to harvest. The farmers up North now consider it a great luxury to enjoy the fruits of their labour.

Some of the effects of these untoward activities are people left in hunger, agony, and loss of human dignity, which should be a given in normal circumstances.

Despite what could be considered a simple situation for even the blind to see, there have been some defenses that are not only lame but can be charitably regarded as the products of infertile minds. However, unfortunately, given the weight of the people involved in these counter-narratives, it is an error of fallacy to categorize them as such. These are seemingly cerebral people in the corridors of power whose political weight we cannot reasonably dismiss.

The case of a Governor claiming that all bandits are not criminal came to the fore here. For the sake of argument, let us for a moment agree with him. So, in the same logic, how do all members of IPOB become terrorists for asking for their legitimate rights within the space they call their own? How do peaceful protesters become labeled as hoodlums, while AK47 wielding kidnappers and/or herders are our ‘people’ that we should learn to accommodate? If bandits abduct school children at will, threatening to humiliate if ten of thousands of soldiers are sent to them, but graciously negotiated with by a soldier-cleric, and shots are fired on a group of youngsters who are peacefully expressing their grievances?

Now the latest was the President of Senate, the occupant of the hallowed chamber throwing perhaps deserving tantrums on the entire South West Governors as the masterminds behind the crisis in the South West. Are the Governors in North West also behind the bandits’ unfettered activities? Perhaps, since the North West Governors are better negotiators and have better access to the national treasury, their activities at compensating perpetrators of crime are more justified. I am yet to find any altruistic validation of that assertion, however.

The bottom line is that the North is good at defending its own no matter how atrocious its activities are. For balanced perspectives, El-Rufai, Governor of Kaduna State, though not with any enviable record of not negotiating in the past, lent a voice of reason that negotiations and payment of ransoms will not work.

Nigeria has been long on the cliff, and there is no more assurance that the precipice will not give way sooner than later. While it is lamentable that we are not necessarily represented by our best across the board, the leaders who thought they were building bridges by selling their people as cheap commodities now have a chance for soul searching. Is Nigeria actually one, with everything tilting to only one direction?

Are the South-Western Governors complicit as indicated by the Senate President, or are they suffering double jeopardy because of their perceived compromises? The answer is not that simple, but in between those lines lies the truth.

We have collectively and mistakenly over-empowered the North, and it should not be surprising if they now rub it in openly in our face. It may not matter if you consider this a product of ethnic chauvinism; the fact remains that it is unacceptable to continue to perpetuate inequality in the union while welcoming illegal aliens with royalty. The ‘madman’ we have given the hoe has decided, and reasonably too, to tilt the ground towards himself.

How do we proceed from here, especially if no one wants to shift base? How soon can we prevent the chicken from coming home to roost?

©TheVillageBoy.