As I posted yesterday, Nigeria is quite an exciting place to be right now.
There’s no doubt that the country is in a season of anomie.
There is a lack of usual social standards, personal unrest, and uncertainty resulting from a lack of purpose or ideals. That’s anomie, as defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary.
But while all these are going on, is it possible to be principled?
People will usually take their stands based on where their bread is buttered, but I’m asking if there is any space for people who are so long-suffering that they don’t care where they get food to their tables.
Call them principled if you dare, but the fact remains that there are people like that.
Usually, these people are caught between the groups fighting for survival.
Take the late Dr Beko Ransome-Kuti, for instance. He took it upon himself to send details of what was happening to Obasanjo during the Abacha regime, even though Obasanjo did to his family when he was military head of state.
Beko was later arrested and tried for treason by Abacha’s goons.
Gani Fawehinmi is another example. Although he had the opportunity to dine with the powers that be, he chose to stand with the people, which cost him many periods of incarceration.
When he was due for promotion to the most senior private legal status and wasn’t given it, the majority of the people gave him the title of Senior Advocate of the Masses long before he was given the title of Senior Advocate of Nigeria.
Wole Soyinka is another. Before becoming a Nobel Laureate, he thought of a third force that would have stopped the needless Biafran Civil War. It earned him a 30-month imprisonment, most of it solitary confinement.
He was declared a wanted man for his activities with NADECO, which sprung up to actualise the June 12, 1993 election, which was annulled by the military.
He confirmed that he contacted Peter Obi of the Labour Party. He also told Atiku and Tinubu not to contest the 2023 presidential election. He also encouraged the institution of a third force to help break the jugular in which the two foremost parties are holding the nation.
At the end of the election, he also condemned it.
Must he then be hanged because he condemned the undemocratic views of Datti on a national telly?
As an Obi supporter, I feel embarrassed at the turn of events. I don’t believe the Labour Party should lose sympathisers on petty issues.
Could we please put our thinking caps on?
040823
