Who is Deceiving Who (II): Fury Pen?

 For the umpteenth time, Nigeria has been represented in the profile of this famous theatre of the absurdists. Wherein, a grave tragedy that betides any character now, however massive, means no shock instead a precursor to the graver calamities to come. By inference, the reality in the theatre is the analogy of what happens in the illusional giant of Africa. In converse, the bad governance seen in the periodic switch of power at a time, which possibly bedeviled the country, often times, becomes a desired point of preference for people during the maladministration of the subsequent government. In a regular sequence, we move from mere hunger to starvation, political crisis to socio-economic tumult, promises to disillusionment, hopelessness to despair, unemployment to economic meltdown, ethnic crisis down to sanctimonious war, marginalization, corruption, human trafficking and terrorism. All of which are but narratives in Nigeria context. Typically, Nigeria is a replica of what happens in this theater, because they are inevitable, year in year out. These incidents have gone further in shaping individual attitudes to national issues.

The emergence of the #EndSARS protest, from in and outside the country, makes it believable for many that the future of this country holds good, and a positive vicissitude for the posterity. No less, the first time ever the youths would stand firmly and confidently demanding justice and their civil rights from the silent and gerontocratic government over topical matters of national interest, a reaction following the alleged killings of youth by the marauding police unit known as SARS, now disbanded. In effect, the patriotic spirit which demands the justice for the unjustly killed ones seething in the hearts of many peaceful protesters at home was seen reciprocated by those in diasporas. Of course, this rearly happens in history as the protest saw activities grounded across the country over a week without incident from the government. 

Now, my concern. Barely two weeks, the initially well-intended peaceful protest was hijacked by hoodlums. This counter-event was not as a result of poor organization and strategy of the #EndSARS protest organizers, rather due to the indiscriminate shooting at Lekki toll gate perpetrated by some armed men in the Nigerian army camo. This incident culminated into national controversy, however, it was the only straw that broke the camel's back as it climaxed the wrath of the youth in the past few days. 

At front pages of mainstream media was seated the news that hoodlums looted private stores and shopping malls. Earnestly, I saw on screens the wanton distructions of private properties, and how people burgled into stores and carted away materials that they never could have needed in their lifetimes. Just out of covetousness, they looted. No right thinking man would support such atrocities under normal circumstances. In the wake of this was the discovery of palliative warehouse in Lagos state which opened the floor for other palliative warehouses across the country. However, the Nigerian Governors' Forum, on Tuesday, threatened that all looted items should be returned to the nearby local authorities with stipulation. Funny enough, I saw housewives, young and old people and families stampeding to Ijebu-Ode local government of my area to "loot" with confidence their belongings which the state government had hoarded for reasons best known to it. The "hoodlums" claimed the provision were for them but were hoarded by the state government. No sooner had this occurred than the governors' forum(NGF) spoke in defence of the temerity of its members, stating they were awaiting the second phase of the pandemic. Alas, poor masses. Does this mean you and I are lab specimens to test the hypothesis of a scientific research for the pandemic vaccine? Nigeria story! 

It was particularly painful seeing that his Execellence of Ogun state could do us injury and be involved in such crime of hoarding at the detriment of the citizens, when they are in dire need of his help. Perhaps, we over estimated you, sir. These are people, majority of whom live on the fringe of life. Let us be honest, what on earth could have turned out a man in the company of his son, who ought to be in school as at the time of the incident, to "loot" forgetting the place of modesty in the boy's life? What about the school children who trooped out enmass to "loot" with their parents despite consequences? Definitely, you know what it is! In spite this, the government still tagged the hungry citizens as "hoodlums". Well, his Excellence gave his reason for the delay, saying he awaited the commissioning of the palliative items, while the beans and garri got perished under poor storage and people are dying of hunger. Who knew such provisions were hidden somewhere before now? It is alright, we are very adaptive to such story. Of course, this is Nigeria. Your Excellence, sir, I only need to stress that if at uncertainty you can not salvage your people when they mostly need you, when shall we be expecting your succor? The provisions you ought to have distributed evenly for your people and command our individual respect went in the hands of few others or, worst still, got bad under the terrible storage condition it had been kept for long. This is not fair!

I need not be mad about this story, because what comes after now is a superstory. The protest had come and gone and what we needed to see, we had seen. We know, with conviction, that politics of this country is nothing to right home about. Factually, what separates politicians is the canopies under which they have chosen to stand, each stand bearing the same emblem– the APC is the PDP, and the PDP the APC.