Africa’s greatest nation, Nigeria, is back in its quadrennial electoral cul-de-sac a year early. It is a Nigerian mannerism, to be too early to nonsense or too late to sense. On the eve of the second anniversary of the human outcomes of the last general polls, everyone is agog at the next round of elections. Not sure if it is a blessing or curse but the idea of permanently planting and never once harvesting should trouble every patriot.
From Jamestown to Duke town, to Nembe Brass, to Okokomaiko, to Kafanchan, to Damaturu, and back all the way to Isuikwuato, the bigheaded threesome, the situation is the same. Ditto, the feeling.
Nigerians are alarmed by the general impunity our country witnesses day by day. Worse, we are sinking into more and more brazenness.
Not one sector of our national life is immune. Civil service, or economy, or education? Or healthcare, or infrastructure, or jobs? Or leadership, or public service, or sport?
Still, Nigerians (all 250 million of us) continue to remain silent. We are so silent we can hear the silence which itself is so deafening even the deaf can hear it. A national neighbour could think us dead or that someone gave us a mass anesthesia. What with the fact that we all smile when we should cry.
Is that a true picture of what is happening to Nigerians in Nigeria? Alas, isn't silence the best answer to a fool? In the Nigerian situation, isn't silence wiser than anything we could say? At least, that way, you don't get depatronised or excommunicated or targeted or unpatronised or whatever.
It is the vainglorious and audacious selfishness of that mindset, for me. The Nigerian lives by bread alone, right? Let the evil bread that they give you or that you hope to be given block both your mouth and your brain. Your children and children's children shall soon break the graveyard silence, since the time for accountability is almost here, asking what you did or did not, what you said or did not, while the rot progressed.
That time cometh. In the meantime, focus on feeding your ego, your greed, your idiocy, as you have been doing all these years. Keep being foolish all you can. My prayer is that the consequences be visited on you, rather than as almost always on those who are unfortunate to bear your surname.
Silence, we have taught, untaught and retaught, is the best answer to a fool. Okay, but what if that best answer is not good enough, is not working? What if the fool is a wise person who is only pretending?
Shall we continue in that silence, in this silence?
Which silence? The one that can be misconstrued? The one meant for a fool? The silence greeted by permanent disrespect?
This is not the silence in that proverb. The real silence speaks to calmness and assertiveness and respect and understanding, and above all, to never being intimidated. Yes, the silence that is "the best answer to a fool" is not always about saying or doing nothing. A fool should never intimidate you to the point of doing or saying nothing in response.
You can answer anyone (plus including a fool) without answering them. That is exactly what the same Bible says in Proverbs 26:4-5. "Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself.
Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes."
Let us dwell on the foregoing, awhile. You must answer a fool wisely. Sometimes, that wisdom advises silence but most times that wisdom is better or best expressed. That is how even the fool learns wisdom or how not to continue being a fool.
You can and should read that paragraph again, even if you cannot; even if you should not. Nigerians (all of us) must eschew avarice and learn to stand up for our country, for our state, for our local government area, for our community, for our future. Staying silent to nonsense because of what would come to us is worse than being a fool. In fact, I think that is another form of death; something like being three-quarter dead!
Make a vow, even if you cannot: I am alive. I swear that I shall not feign death or blindness or ignorance because of self-aggrandisement. If I ever am selfish or stupid, it shall be in the interest of my people, and verifiably so. Community or corporate selfishness is not selfishness!
In the build-up to and during 2027, let everything be about the people. We have suffered too much, too long. And, we the people, let us grow more vigilant. Let us hold our leaders accountable not only for their actions, inaction and words, but also for the constitution and our expectation.
If it becomes increasingly difficult to do so while also being involved politically, then something has to give. After all, of what use is the politics that kills the society or that dampens human essence? How exactly does it happen that a leader is biting and blowing us but we are applauding them sheepishly? Is it "jass" or still this thing of what shall my family and I eat?
Wake up from this slumber, dear people of God. Stop hiding under the little finger called silence. Stop smiling like a frightened cat. You are a lion: stand up and protect the den.
This conquest is too cheap, almost like surrender. From this to the end of the year are defining months.
Stand up to be counted. Take a position in the sun today.
I repeat: man up, at least for once in your life. The census on true patriots is taxiing to take off. Let your excuse not be that the moon was not bright enough to capture you. Fearless men and women are lining up in the sun, finger in the air, while political eunuchs are hiding in the name of waiting for the moon.
Silence is no more golden. Oh, well, perhaps, it still is in that a sensible person ought not take silence for granted as it has the potentiality of causing an implosion or even an explosion. However, words of courage and actions of patriotism are now diamond. We have had enough of rough diamond leaders let alone those who offer nothing but immorality upon immorality.
Let any and every realignment be only about the people. Let crass ethnicity and personal interest and politics Nigeriana die by fire, in the Name of Jesus. Let us be free for once to enjoy what our Creator gave us. Let our blessing cease being a curse.