The Revolution we need

The Revolution we need

Folarin Samson

President Goodluck Jonathan may be described as one of the quiet presidents Nigeria has had in her 51 years of nationhood. His unassuming mien, childlike smile and melancholic frame belie the granite will and enormous strength of a leader. This of course could be good covers for a great president as renowned world leaders like America’s Lincoln, British Churchill and even India’s Ghandi equally had deceptive appearance until you hear them speak. They commanded attention and respect with their inspired speeches. What they lacked in appearance they abundantly made up for in utterance. Their words reflected the dignity of their office.

Conversely, Nigeria’s Jonathan appears always trapped whenever he speaks. Critical analysts must have been archiving his list of gaffe as they could make interesting study for aspiring leaders. It seems there is a gradient from the absurd to the ridiculous. Mr President in his early campaign days had taken a sweep at the South-western governors whom he derisively tagged rascals. When all hell was let loose on His Excellency by the affected governors, Mr President slyly re-tracked and said he was quoted out of context. Again, in his address at a programme organized by the Christian Association of Nigeria at the Abuja Chapel, Mr. President in reacting to his critics who faulted his approach to government was quoted as saying he was no commander or general. Dr Jonathan forgot that by virtue of his office, he is the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces which is no mean conferment. It is a title that requires action as well as caution in public. Recently, in the upsurge of reactions to the proposed fuel subsidy removal the President again goofed: “I am ready to face the people’s revolution over the removal of oil subsidy”.

As an informed Nigerian youth who has read historical books and watched the gory entails of a revolution in graphic documentaries, I think this statement is in bad taste, inciting and least expected of Mr. President who is supposed to be the Chief Security Officer of the country. Since this statement was made, many have been embolden to mouth the word with reckless abandon. The State Security Service hands are tied this time around. They cannot make any arrest or level any seditious charges against anyone because a precedent has been laid by the president.  I am afraid for the security of this nation.

But don’t take my fear as a show of cowardice. It is my believe that Mr. President ought to have known better before making the statement. Havelock Ellis, a British social reformer could not have been wrong when he said “There is nothing war has ever achieved that we could not achieve without it.” Recent world events should have taught us timeless truths about revolutions. After a careful look at the Arab Spring and Maghreb uprising with their attendant spate of heavy casualties and economic devastation, I concluded that Nigerians don’t deserve to go through such horrors. Over 50,000 perished in Libya to topple a single man. Media reported over 35,000 dead in the Egyptian revolt, Tahrir Square is still boiling with violence and bloodbath. Bashar al-Assad’s heavy crackdown on protesters in Syria has not abated. Heads are still rolling and mortuaries are overflowing with corpses. Do we see justification for a revolution in our milieu from this carnage or the need for a reflection on the fatal cost of it? Supposing these have no relevance to us, have we quickly forgotten that Nigeria lost over two million of its able body youths, adults, women and children in the 1967 Civil War? Forty-four years after, the devastated areas still echo the agony of war. And who were the victims: commoners! They were slaughtered, sacrificed for “freedom”. Even the many military coups that were couched in adorable intentions and that made some gullible Nigerians look on the military interventionists as messiahs have rather festered our predicaments, notwithstanding the murder of “corrupt” politicians. And after the huge human sacrifices, how far has our war of attrition taken us?

Those calling for a revolution in Nigeria should be pitied rather than criticized. They do not understand the import of William Sherman’s thoughtful statement. The veteran of the American Civil War of 1861 had said “It is only those who have neither fired a shot nor heard the shrieks and groans of the wounded who cry aloud for blood, more vengeance, more desolation” And even the Cuban warlord, Fidel Castro acknowledged that revolution is not a bed of roses. While it will not be wise to play the ostrich by ignoring the indices many revolution proponents have cited that portend an oncoming cataclysm, I strongly believe Nigeria needs a different kind of revolution.

We need revolution in leadership. Aside the corruption virus which has now assumed an intractable proportion in the corridors of power, our leaders have the penchant for ignoring public opinion. Italy former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and Greece former Prime Minister George Papandreou both resigned recently when they discovered they were economic failures who no longer enjoy popularity. They took that honourable step in the interest of their countrymen and beloved nation. Nigerian leaders have not learnt to bow out even when the odds are against them. When there is flagrant dereliction of constitutional duties and gross violation of electoral promises and pledges, all we get are excuses, more promises and smiles. They disrespect public opinion and thread roughshod on the will of the majority. But how will such faulty leadership be enthroned if our collective values are not twisted?

Hence we are in dire need of revolution in our value orientation. I agree with Edmund Burke when he said “the most important of all revolutions is a revolution in sentiments, manners and moral opinions.” That is what we need. An average Nigerian only cares for his belly. He will vote along ethno- religious lines. We are easily fooled by opportunistic politicians who besiege our churches and mosques begging for votes under the pretext of prayers, and refusing to return to ask for wisdom and discretion from God after claiming the prize at the polls. We are a people who are victims of self-imposed affliction and worse still, we don’t learn from our mistakes. We make important decisions without due recourse to reason and history, then after the deed is done, we begin to cry for bloody revolution as if it were a tea party. Looking at the progressive debacle of the Nigerian story, the axiom that a country deserves the kind of leaders it gets cannot be wrong. We are a product of our many wrong choices.

The wave of revolution should also sweep through all our sectors. The educational sector for instance has been in a mess as mediocrity and academic poverty now holds sway in our ivory tower. Certificates are bought with “back-work”, no longer hard-work. Academics strike at will because government failed to comply with some clumsy arrangements. The agricultural sector is unexplored because of crude oil. China, US and Japan are countries that are major players in world economy today and agriculture is at the core of their operations. Prior to the 1950s, before the curse of crude oil came, agriculture was the mainstay of our economy. Oil mines came and instead of boosting our economy, it plunged us into untold misery. We earned the ignoble paradox of ‘rich but poor’ Health, banking, transportation, among others are all in shambles.

But how will our sectors work when government’s time and resources are dissipated in trying to quell civil unrest, inter-tribal wrangling, militancy, religious conflicts and senseless agitations, leaving no room for thorough and rigorous economic planning? This is why we need to sit together as a nation under God and lay to rest these subversive elements. We need the Sovereign National Conference. That is a great revolution in my reckoning. No Nigerian leader has shown enough courage to initiate the process that will give Nigeria lasting peace. Ralph Emerson was spot on when he said “Peace cannot be achieved through violence. It can only be attained through understanding.” We must discuss, not destroy Nigeria. Our checkered history has shown that we are heading for the precipice if we don’t sit to discuss our future. It was first Niger-Delta militants with their kidnapping tactics and systematic sabotage of our commonwealth, then came Boko-Haram with its ferocious sporadic attacks on innocent Nigerians. The Yorubas may also be brewing their deadly militia together with the science-defying, mystic weapons. It will be the end. Before things get out of hand, let us sit and re-evaluate our union, re-define our association, re-assess the appropriateness of our governing constitution and settle our scores. This sort of revolution may birth our needed transformation and social re-engineering.

The above revolutions don’t have to be bloody. Frederick Wilson says “Wars are not acts of God. They are caused by man-made institutions, by the way in which man has organized his society. What man has made, man can change” To avert uncontrollable political upheaval, Mr. President has to be wary of making inflammatory utterances in public that could provide the fodder for mischief workers.

Finally, Dr. Jonathan should know Nigerians cannot bear the unjustifiable removal of fuel subsidy. We are the 6^th largest producer of oil in the world for goodness sake. The year 2012 is now in view. And although we are waiting for the usual prophetic utterances of our prophets and soothsayers, some people have already foreseen an apocalypse by 2012. The world would suddenly come to an end, we’re told. Many of us are skeptical of the prediction, especially after several of such have proved to be the hallmark of excellent gin. But I do hope our President’s proposed new-year gift of removal of fuel subsidy does not make the prediction come true on our national existence. Mr. President, this error is avoidable.

By Folarin Samson

A serving corps member in Ebonyi State

childofdkingdom@gmail.com/ 08030572852

Tales from my jungle 7: Cursed for sexual indiscipline

Warning: I know woman rights activists may chance on this. I wish to state that the mutual consent of the participants make legal suit inactionable. The piece is a little explicit but I have tried to tone down its galling effect with some phrases that suggest the meaning implied. The piece is not another Nollywood flick, it's real, touching. Ready for this? Let's go.

Have you heard of nymphomaniac? What of cassanova? You may need to consult your lexicon for help. Both have one thing in common: insatiable urge for sex. Bear this in mind.

While I was preparing for service, I heard a lot about cheap village girls on the sprawl for loose corps members. They are yours for the asking. I got enough warnings to be careful. Here is the story of someone who was not careful enough and got his fingers burnt.

Prank (not real name) was a Batch B corps member in my PPA. He has passed out now but his sexual escapades like a noiseless putrid fart lingers on. His name evokes odium and infamy. His randy lifestye was far from being exemplary. He was a sex maniac. The female voluptious torso turns him on anytime. Prank was so obsessed, or is it possessed, that the afternoon he was to end his youth service, he still ravished a female student before departing the corpers lodge. He left the room in disarray and with the trail of sorrow, tears and blood. He must be mad, you say? Please find a worse tag. You have not read anything yet. Continue.

On a sweltering afternoon, Prank got to know one of the female students he was sleeping with was also romping with another corps member and one of the students (which makes them three feasting in the same pot). The sultry girl would sometimes hop from Prank's room to another corper's room on sexual exploration, neither being aware of playing second fiddle to the other. Prank was indignant. He decided to embarrass the poor girl,so he called for a meeting of all parties for confirmation.They were all surprised to know they've been bedding the same girl. They agreed to embarrass and ridicule her.

The girl was summoned. She was an SS 2 student.Her coruscating natural beauty deeply contrasted the beastly look of her lovers turned conspirators.She wore an apprehensive look, not sure of the portentous atmosphere. She shudered at the strange thought assailing her mind and seem to be wishing it away.

That afternoon innocent breeze was polluted by their vile congregation. It was a weird show of shame and senselessness. The jury was headed by Prank. Then they begun, abruptly. 'Didn't I sleep with you', the first corper questioned, swelling with murderous hate and contempt. The poor girl muttered an hesitant 'yes'. 'Didn't I sleep with you' the student who was her boy-friend querried in Ibo, she replied in the affirmative. It was Prank's turn. He looked at her scornfully and with an evil grin on his wretched face asked: 'Didn't you enter my room and asked me to sleep with you'.The girl protested and vigorously shook her head, close to tears. 'No, you forced me' she whined, 'I didn't wilfully consent.' Prank shut her up with his hoarse, cruel voice.
The girl, unable to control her temper suddenly burst into a hysteria. She particulary took time to pour venomous invectives on the corpers and vowed to deal with them.She spoke in Ibo and sparsed it with English. They could pick very little of her barbs. 'When you people graduate and don't find job, nobody will know what you did with your life.' she reproached, bracing herself up for the worst.

That night, Prank and his colleague could not sleep. The girl's enchanted words hunted them like a trained javelin hasting for its target. They were lost in bizarre nightmares. They begged sleep for reprieve, but it eluded them. It was obvious they had stepped on the cobra's tail and should now be prepared for the battle of their lives.

One of the corps members who shared in the forbidden fruit got the first serpentine strike. Tosy (not real name) had heavily invested in a library project which he initiated for the school. He went hungry many times in his craze to raise funds. Yes, he succeeded, but won no award. In fact, on the day his project was commissioned he was not recognised. What could be worse? The boastful principal took the glory for the project and completely forgot to acknowledge the corper who sacrificed time, energy and his allowee for its execution (I think he must be under a powerful spell to make such a ridiculous omission?) As consolation, the school issued him a letter of recommendation for exemplary and meritorious service to fatherland (I wonder what weight a letter of recommendation from a village principal carries. Just thinking aloud). As he entered the village, so he left: unsung, unknown and uncelebrated! I still see the small faint childish lettering of his name and NYSC number on the fading cream paint that lighted the dim library.

Prank and his friend may still be grappling with the grim consequence of their reprehensible action and may deem it fit to write and warn others on the danger of sexual pervasion. But this is where my narrative stops.

The hazards of NYSC are enormous. The undisciplined youth is mostly vulnerable to destructive forces that thrive on the bait of immorality to which he's helpless. He sacrifices his destiny on the altar of cheap sexual satisfaction. Too late to weep when the damage has been done.

Beware friends,

All that glitters is not gold,
Often that you have been told,
Many destinies have been sold,
To the enemies' stronghold
B'cos they refused God's mold,
The future they could not hold,
Strange forces their lives now scold,
They end bitter in outer cold,
Even when they become old
Bent beneath heavy load
You don't have to take this road,
Like the youths I made you behold,
So be strong and very bold,
Stay in His sheltering fold.

To read other jungle tales, click: www.childofdkingdom.blogspot.com

Tales from my jungle 6: Love in the camp

Note: This piece is real, personal. After reading it, you will either like me or hate me.Well, let me know which side of the divide you fall into after reading.God understands I had to do what I did though an heart was fractured in the process (I'm no heart breaker o).Ready for this?Let's go.

Is it true that love not reciprocated degenerates into irreconciliable hatred?Have you ever been in love but ignored or rejected? I've got an experience to share.

The NYSC orientation camp on a good day is a beehive of activities-seminars, football competitions, parade, comedy shows, cultural dance, drama. You are encoruaged to be social. I observed that many of these were designed to induce interraction among corps members. If you didn't get any girl friend while on campus,the camp can be a good place to begin a sizzling romantic affair.

After a week of camping, many platonic and erotic relationships were forged. I almost tangled with a lady too. How did it go? (I know you enjoy love stories like this) You'll soon find out, please continue.It all began when I chose to be part of the drama group for my platoon. We wanted to depict the problems confronting inter-tribal marriage. It would be a love story. Then I was chosen to act the role of the lover boy. It would be the opening scene and we were expected to do a little romance including allowing her rest her full weight on me, sit on my lap, a little caressing to make it look real....(I leave the rest to your wild imagination). My heart started thumping fast.Me? Lover boy? How?

The girl I was to pair up with fell in love with the idea. Sincerely, she's the kind of girl any man would really want for keeps. Her features are quickly discernable. She's got a dark shining skin like polished ebony. In her luminous eye balls you could see the sun in its beauty. If she rolls them, please don't look at her because she's out for a kill. Her slim fragile frame, enchanting body contours, velvet voice acme seduction.Her sheepish smiles and alluring eye lashes make her the unmistakeable masterpiece of a skilled human achitect.In her white shorts and white round-neck top, she would outclass any gaudily dressed model on the runway, her thin long legs being an advantage. She's the kind of girl any man would love to look twice. In appearance, she's got a coquettish disposition, the spirit of the party type. She's beautiful. But I feared for my life. Yes, it's a drama, but I no fit do am.

I saw that my colleagues were scandalised when they noticed my palpable discomfort. How can a man in his right senses refuse such a 'golden' opportunity? Will you say you never had a girl friend in secondary school or university? You've never slept with a girl before? Where are you from? The questions came in torrents, reflecting their dark passions and rude shock. To all this, I played mute. Quiet like a boy robbed of his toy.

A guy who was particularly envious of my 'luck' and had jockingly teased and urged me to clutch to my prize after the drama was eager to replace me.

But the girl would have none of that. She wanted nobody else but this 'Jew' guy. Then she called me aside for a tete-a-tete. "Please I want you to act it because that other guy can be 'crazy' with girls, even on set "(please decode what she meant). I wanted to be part of the drama but I just could not reconcile my role with my rule.The equation was too complex. While in school, I would not allow a girl hug me, let alone sit on my lap.

That's my rule.I'm a realist. What if body chemistry contracts, reacts and begin to interact? (No laugh o) See, I am a firm believer in the biological theory that says when two opposite poles meet, there must be a chemical reaction. Can you imagine what it will look like to try containing a raging fire, a tempestous passion while in a live performance that got your audience distracted from what you're doing to another show that's of deeper interest to them? Sho! I can't give Macgregor audience another drama on stage (laughing...)

Back to my story.Unmoved by my strange stance, they decided to use one of the guys around to testrun so I could see my line. I was still unconvinced and uncomfortable. I chose to opt out. I no fit do am. Don't tempt the devil to tempt you.

The girl was bitter and disconsolate. The other tetchy ladies began to isolate me despite my conciliatory moves. I was stigmatised a spoiler, a pariah who deserved to be quarantined in an asylum. Although I succeeded in worming my way back into their hearts, my Edo corper 'lover' however decided to put me at arms length. Her response to my banters is a study in non-challance. She gave me cold stare anytime our faces jammed. It was obvious she was terribly hurt and disappointed.

But how will I explain that the rationale for my action can be found in a poser raised by an intellectual and philosophical monarch over 2,000 years ago which no scientific genuis or epistemology has been able to debunk or repeal? It's archived in the Good Book: 'Can a man put fire in his bossom and his clothes not be burnt?

'Please don't get me wrong. I am not Pope John Paul the third neither am I an aspiring Paul the Apostle on this matter. Celibacy is not in my lineage and I don't intend to start it (my parents go vex and posterity no go forgive me for not reproducing my kind). But I believe in the strong pillars of discipline, purity, integrity and chastity. I'm also careful and selective. You can't hook me by drama or grammar except by prayer. If interested, please apply via 40 days and 40 nights of prayer and fasting on Mount Everest, oh that's too far, try clambering Kilimanjairo.Pray hard. I'm the best man prayer can buy. (laughing....)
To read other jungle tales click: www.childofdkingdom.blogspot.com