The young man that strolled across the road, nonchalant as though he was walking on the banks of the Riviera to enjoy the summer breeze, should not have been there. Tall, muscles rippling across his bare back, he was completely unaware of himself and his surroundings in the way that you and I would be, his nakedness, the obvious evidence of his mental illness. He was all alone, no one knew him. Nobody ever wants to know people like him or even countenance them except to throw curses as the irate driver did who wished him a worse fate than had already befallen his befuddled mind. This was because the driver missed knocking him down just by a hair’s breadth and would have had to answer to the authorities for killing a person, personhood having been restored only by death.

A common Yoruba adage queries the parentage of the mad, the ones that have been rejected by our society, ignored until they attempt to reach out to us and then we run like the demons of hell have been let loose.

Most are blamed for having brought such a terrible fate upon themselves by some imagined past misdeeds. This is when immediate family members are not trying to ascribe the curse to some evil machinations in the spirit realm. But in reality, these people suffer from an ailment that might be controlled with appropriate medication and they might live with a modicum of normalcy if only our society cared enough that they do.

They roam the streets of major cities except Abuja where it is rumoured that the quasi governor of that territory has mandated that they along with others destitute should be kept out of sight so that the city may remain sparkling and free of the blight of the poor among us. I have heard it told that the destitute in the FCT are in a camp where they live in makeshift tents akin to those erected by leper colonies that squat in places eaten away by erosion along the Shagamu-Benin Express Way begging alms off travellers. The word on the street has it that the FCT ministry arranged that alms should be received at the Central Bank and taken by their officials to the place on the outskirts of the city designated for settlement by the destitute. This unique banking service will no doubt ease the hardship beggars must suffer as they ply their trade in the hot Abuja sunshine.

The service may be seen by some, as better after all than the spasmodic payments by the Federal Government for feeding and up keep of the poor and needy housed in Majidun. This is one of the facilities rarely provided by the Nigerian social services for the homeless; it is on the way to Ikorodu from Lagos and is reported to be more of a prison camp than a care and rehabilitation facility. No wonder beggars in Lagos find cleaner and safer abode along highways where with full bellies, they make brisk trade with takings that run to thousands of Naira daily. When Mr Tinubu attempted to remove them from Lagos streets a few months ago, the beggars association reacted very sternly, citing freedom of association and of movement and threatened to take the beleaguered governor to court. Not willing to stand up to yet another disenchanted group clamouring for entitlements and rights, Mr Tinubu quietly let go of the struggle and the beggars remained in town, velvet gowns and all.

The beggars have proven that they can take care of themselves and stand up to any government that would dare to infringe on their rights. If only there were more like them with plenty of courage, little to protect and a sense of oneness with others among the rest of the Nigerian society. 

 You will notice that beggars, no matter how dirty, seldom walk around naked or eat from refuse skips. Most of them go home to bed at the end of the day’s work and you will never catch them sleeping facing up to the blistering afternoon sun. One of their props being the ubiquitous patched umbrella that is pitched at a convenient spot near the road to provide a shade for their siesta. Some with advanced marketing skills make up melodious tunes to persuade you to part with your lowest denomination note or more if they have little half-clothed children at hand to pull at your heartstrings. They no longer accept coins because it stopped being legal tender in Nigeria a long time ago and you will agree that a successful business moves with the changing times.

The mentally ill on the other hand follow no particular pattern in their wonderings and habits that we can see. Many disrobe at the littlest provocation and take their food and rest where they find it, hot afternoon sun or no. Since they move alone in very personal worlds, they have not been able to form associations to terrorise errant governments and have found no spokesperson to represent their interests.

In the rush by civil society to form NGOs that will help develop Nigeria and address problems of society, none was established to address the needs of the vagrant mentally ill. I suppose it is more lucrative to seek funding continually to raise awareness on HIV/AIDS, recycling canned information at workshops attended by a handful of the usual participants.

Whole parastatals working with a battery of consultants have been established to manage topical health issues that have been redefined so that every one can have a piece of the action, women, youth and sports, prisons and even the national assembly. However, madness is never topical and nobody wants a part of it. Not even psychiatric hospitals that are so severely under funded and lacking in skilled professionals that they function only as temporary holding facilities where patients loll in drug-induced catatonia. Therefore, on the excuse of earning additional income, more of these hospitals are transforming themselves into mere rest homes for offspring of the rich who want to take short breaks from drugs and high living in what they hope is anonymity. There is increasingly no place in all this for the mentally ill who is unable to pay in advance of care and whose government prescribed health insurance may not cover the cost of mental illness.

Revivals are organised almost weekly to explode miracles that will end barrenness, get new or recycled husbands, bring financial break through and heal all manner of illnesses except that of the mind. This might be because those needful of such miracles will not, of their own accord make their way to the revival grounds. It would of course be easier to yell oppressive demons to submission in the mind that is lucid than it would be to divest a mind in turmoil of its possessive demons. Apart from that, a tenth of nothing is nothing so nothing would be gained from ministering to the mentally ill.

Our collective attitude, government and people, shows that we have little regard for human dignity, such that the sight of a blooming pregnant woman walking stark naked down a busy road no longer moves us to action or even to sympathy. We would only spare curious stares for the obviously deranged man being beaten to within an inch of his life for some minor infraction that would have been overlooked if caused by a sane person that remembered to say sorry or make quick tracks out of the place. The sight of dismembered corpses on our streets inundates us daily and we are seldom able to confirm what happened to that mad person that fed out of the refuse heap round the corner from our houses.

Yet medical science says that mental illness is not hereditary but familial. In addition to which it can occur spontaneously in any given society, subject to stresses and traumas that a person might be exposed to or because of aging. That leaves each one of us open to the possibility of mental illness that can become manifest in all sorts ways. It is unfortunate that a potential victim may not be able to indicate in advance, preference for a specific brand of madness.

This should therefore be reason enough for us to take very seriously the care and protection of victims of mental illness, helping them to live life with as much dignity as can be mustered in spite of their mental health status. All said and done, it could be you next. Did I catch you waving your hand across your head while clicking your fingers? In that uniquely Nigerian gesture and response to all ills that means God Forbid, Far be it from me!

Robot  Villager

# 1 The young man that strolled across the road, nonchalant as though he was walking on the banks of the Riviera to enjoy the summer breeze, should not have been there. Tall, muscles rippling across his bare back, he was completely unaware of himself and his surroundings in the way that you and I would be, his nakedness, the obvious evidence of his mental illness. He was all alone, no one knew him. Nobody ever wants to know people like him or even countenance them except to t...Read the full article. Posted by Robot| 17.03.2006 08:36

Obugi  Villager

# 2 Mutti, These mad ppl have families, I blame their families first. U r very right though on the bebasement of humanity in Nigeria sha, but it is a function of the economy. No yab me O, I just think social welfare is one of those things that can only evolve in a growing and prosperous economy. I don't know what can b done about this. Call me blunt, but I don't think these mentally ill ppl should b a priority right now. Let's save the sane ppl first so they can make the country a better place 2 live. As 4 NGO's, make I no start abeg. :lol: Obugi. Posted by Obugi| 17.03.2006 10:47

Zhul- qarnain  Villager

# 3 you can't expect to sow rice and reap cocoyam. you can't expect to sow yam and reap cassava. you can't expect to sow misrule in the country and reap sane minds in Nigeria! In advanced societies, people lose their minds to indulgence in drugs and disappointment in love relationships. In Africa, we lose our sanity as a result of hunger, unemployment, assasins, corruption, third term etc. How person wey no care about sane members of his country go take remember the mad ones! It is only when a high ranking official is attacked by one of these mentally challenged people that they will get the required attention. Be warned however that there are more madmen and women in power than there are on the streets! Posted by Zhul- qarnain| 17.03.2006 12:56

DeepThought  Villager

# 4 Thank you Zhul.q. Mutti is worried about small, small madmen on the streets when we should all be more concerned with the ones in Abuja, especially that one in the Aso rock assylum. Posted by DeepThought| 17.03.2006 18:58

Mutti  Villager

# 5 DT, While you and other braves are out hunting the mamoth that is trampling our crops some of us left behind are looking after those little things that will ensure continued existence in comfort whether or not you come home with the kill. You will see that the women are making sure that they remain attractive for when you return (look at the woman to woman thread where they are discussing lipstick). Believe me you in Diaspora are closer to Obj than those of us in Nigeria. The shenaningans in the Asylum in Aso Rock does not have that much of an immediate or direct impact on our daily lives. A ruler depends on lieutenants to implement policies in all of the kingdom. those are the ones that affect us directly and it is good to from time to let them know when they are not doing it right. My teacher told me in primary school that that is our civic duty but I am sure you know. You may be surprised to learn that the arrangements to have CBN receive alms on behalf of beggars was made by a woman director responsible for FCT environment. But since you prefer that we only talk about big fish, does Soludo know that some CBN staff are dedicating paid time to acting as alms collection agents? While those repsonsible for social welfare have yet to turn their minds to alternative sources of income for ensuring the effectiveness of their establishments even as they enjoy the generous perquisites paid to them by government for doing the work. I am not a fan of Obj but there are those also among us who have some responsibility for the decay but we choose to bury our heads in the sand while we point our butts in the general direction of Abuja hoping to crap in the face of Obj. Third term or not Obj will go even if na die e go die. But the new person can only be so effective if SHE has the same questionable assistance that we as the people of Nigeria have to offer. So as we take care of the big things, lets keep our eyes on the little things as well. If mad man dey follow you struggle for your door mouth as you return from work every day Obj may not be so all important. In anycase going by your analogy we must all be mad if we continue to allow ourselves to be ruled by the Mad Man in Abuja and his fellow inmates of the Aso Rock Asylum Posted by Mutti| 18.03.2006 10:58

DeepThought  Villager

# 6 Mutti, Pls don't get me wrong,I'm not saying we shouldn't discuss little matters, but I've always believed that when you take care of the big thing, all little ones will fall in place. So kudos to those who are taking care of the small things in the meantime, its just that I personally tend to spend my time looking at the biger picture. I didn't know the CBN is taking alms for madmen, thanks for that bit of information. At least someone is doing something.But are these donations or funds dedicated for this purpose by the Fed Govt? Finally - Lipstick section? Attractive women? Chei.... I must go take a look .But I will hold you responsible if my wife dents my oblong head with the cooking pan!!! Posted by DeepThought| 18.03.2006 14:36

emj  Villager

# 7 What exactly are the various Social welfare ministries in all the state of the federation doing? Are they not meant to co-ordinate the removal and placement of mentally ill people with the Psychatric hospitals? There are so many mentally ill people and destitutes on our streets. You find more of destitutes roaming the streets in lagos, they look like mad people, but all they need is some support/care. Some have no home, you have a mixture of street people and mad ones on the streets. Our society is yet to learn the fact they rather than being ashamed of a family member who has mental problem, we should support them by getting them proper help. The govt has done next to nothing to improve or properly fund the various psychatric hospitals in the country. There are so many people in need of treatment and counselling. A lot of the cases that have gone worse could have been better managed if we understand the need for psychatrists. Some people are mentally sick due to drug abuse, and some due to stress etc. Posted by emj| 20.03.2006 00:57