I’VE been patient, but where I’m concerned patience has its limits. Take it too far and it’s cowardice”—George Jackson, a member of the Black Panthers.
“There are forms of oppression and domination which become invisible – the new normal”—Michel Foucault, writer and philosopher.
Painful situations, painful memories exist in many different forms in Nigeria where poverty and dissatisfaction, or the distinct feeling of living below one’s potential, aren’t only observable but almost considered normal, acceptable forms of social life. Unlike the United States for example where “the pursuit of happiness” is a constitutionally recognised inalienable human right, happiness in Nigeria is nothing more than a fairy tale. To dare to dream of a better life is mocked, ridiculed not only by the elite but by the poor and middle-classes in a society where individuals internalise, from the very beginning, feelings of hopelessness, worthlessness and lowliness which make the average Nigerian worship the rich, no matter how they make their money, without realising the extent of the dysfunctionalities of a socio-political system where without a connection to government, one can’t really do business or access many of the opportunities taken for granted in other climes.
Nigerians glorify the rich, the so-called captains of industry for example, praise their would-be business acumen whereas rather than talent or ideas, what many “successful” people in this society have, is simply put, a government contact who facilitates contracts and miscellaneous opportunities which anyone in the same position would be able to benefit from. In a society where the best man can’t get the job, where people without the right set of connections can’t get a decent education, where money stolen from government won’t be used to fight poverty or create opportunities for the masses, poverty and hardship for all become the norm rather than the exception.
Why shouldn’t there be hundreds if not thousands or even millions of successful business owners all around the country rather than the hundred or so politically exposed names that are often called to give fake advice to young people at popular forums in Lagos and Abuja? There is no secret to many people’s wealth in Nigeria, beyond nepotism, corruption and the ability to feign some sort of brilliance, or to white-wash illegal activities using the media. We have only just begun to realise the true extent of corruption and injustice in Nigeria.
When we make excuses for corrupt persons in and out of government (by stating their political party, by calling it a witch-hunt, by pointing out that they are members of a so-called marginalised group that ironically doesn’t even receive any benefits from corruption etc.), we set ourselves back, we show that we are so accustomed to hardship and pain, that we are ironically ready to welcome more of it because some part of us believes this is the normal state of affairs. Yes, if this were some lawless animal kingdom (perhaps it is, this is what we have been reduced to by self-interested lawmakers who seek only amnesty for themselves and their accomplices) but not in a democracy.
Nigerians were never taught (or shown) the true meaning of democracy, of a society of equals, where some people don’t seem to have more rights than others. We’ve kept quiet in the face of evil, justified and normalised oppression all over, in our offices and in our homes, watching the violence done to us at the political centre trickle down into the most intimate corners of our lives. We’ve hardly bothered to question the system, or to ask why we should be so destitute when our country is so rich, we chose instead to sing religious songs of fortitude and resilience or to believe in “kismet”, fate. Suffering is not inevitable. No, it is not part of life—at least not at the level it occurs in Nigeria. The greatest sickness in our country isn’t even the cancer of corruption, it is our flawed mind-set which enables, encourages, justifies and upholds corruption.
Most rich Nigerians don’t believe the poor deserve the comforts they take for granted. It’s very common to hear people say they can’t donate certain items because “Nigerians will break or vandalise them” or “you can’t have parks and open spaces in Nigeria because the poor will defecate openly”. Never once do these privileged few whose privileges in fact are only possible due to our own defeated and accepting mind-set (the mind-set of slaves), stop to consider how the failure of the educational system and decades of mass poverty have left poor Nigerians living in squalor and therefore unable to imagine another way of life.
No one, if given the chance, would choose poverty, dirt and discomfort. It is up to those who do know better, who can picture a different sort of Nigeria, to inspire and galvanise all those who through no fault of theirs, have been left behind. Unfortunately, as a people, we are extremely class conscious (another consequence of corruption and wanting to separate oneself from death and poverty by ironically plunging others into those two torments), snobbish and delusionary, arrogant people. For this reason, it is difficult for us to see the commonalities between our struggles: the bread-seller, the bank teller, the university student and the small business owner have a lot more in common than they know, irrespective of their sex, religion or ethnicity. The greatest trick politicians pulled was to make Nigerians believe that we are each other’s enemies or that one group is responsible for another’s backwardness or lack of opportunity. This is done so that we don’t realise the strength in our unity. We must speak up when it matters and do so together because it’s in all our interests. Normalising oppression, talking about Nigeria as if this is how things have always been or as if change is impossible, serves only the interest of politicians. Nigeria will change when we not only believe it will but start acting like it.
Will the banks be sanctioned?
THE Attorney General of the Federation spoke through a counsel Prof. Yemi Akinseye-George (SAN), who accused no less than seven commercial banks of illegally hiding a total of $793,200,000 (about N249,659,700,000.00), for “unknown government officials”, in obvious breach of the Treasury Single Account, TSA policy, which states that all government funds should be domiciled with the CBN.
These funds, government taxes, fees, dues, tariffs etc. from different ministries, departments, parastatals and agencies, belong to the government and therefore to Nigerians. What are we going to do about corruption? When will punishment begin? Forget restructuring, our major focus should be punishing all those involved in defrauding the state and its citizens. Restructuring is political, it won’t make Nigerians less poor. Solving corruption will. America was built on taxes, government funds don’t appear out of nowhere. Would America continue to exist if such huge sums routinely left the treasury? Would Nigeria need to borrow to fund its budget if corruption was curbed? Nigerians must continue to speak out and demand action.
Festus Keyamo
THIS famous lawyer and SAN is of the opinion that former President Goodluck Jonathan must be made to answer for the corruption which went on in his government. The recent revelations by US government sources and US anti-money laundering watchdogs which listed properties allegedly purchased by businessmen Jide Omokore and Kola Aluko on Diezani Allison-Madueke’s behalf (the former minister of petroleum) can’t be ignored.
Mr. Keyamo made some instructive comments: “without first dismantling the warped system at the NNPC, what we accuse Diezani of will continue unchecked. It would just be turn-by-turn. The big unanswered question: is it possible one minister allegedly stole so much without the knowledge, connivance and approval of the Commander-in-Chief? This is not about PDP or APC. It is about a strange system that cannot know so much has been stolen until a foreign entity reveals it to us”. This oppression isn’t normal, no matter how you spin it.
Tabia Princewill is a strategic communications consultant and public policy analyst. She is also the co-host and executive producer of a talk show, WALK THE TALK which airs on Channels TV.
The post Ending the normalisation of oppression: speaking up when it matters appeared first on Vanguard News.
No comments:
Post a Comment