Victims of Appeasement and Torture

By Hakeem Babalola

Regarding the affairs of their nation, Nigerians always miss every opportunity the creator has thrown in their path.  They are quick and forceful - no doubt. By any standard Nigerians are as smart as a whip. Among other Africans they are easily recognised as someone with mental alertness and calculation and resourcefulness. Nigerians are diligent worker or if you prefer industrious. The louche conduct of a few Nigerians notwithstanding. Here in Hungary I know of a company that would employ Nigerians any time any day despite the felonious intent of some of us.

 Nigerians abroad have helped advance their adopted countries – even more than their biological nation. But they have a weakness: it is that they don’t know how to build or prevent their own mama from apparent ruin. Remember humans do not age in just one day. Every step they take leads to nowhere in particular as they keep encircling the errors.

 It seems to me that Nigerians are too idealistic. They have forgetten that idealism does not have a place in modern politics. Perhaps this is the main reason why they engage in false belief whenever certain opportunity knocks their door. Or they are marked with blithe unconcern when it comes to showing affection towards their own mama. However, most of them always paint the picture of a nationalist; they usually moved to quash any attempt at revolt. These deceitful and unreliable scoundrel camouflage in different forms. They are in the army, politics, intellectual establishment, church, and virtually everywhere. Some are called elder statesman, while a host of others have stolen different titles – chief, prince, doctor, pastor and so on.

I often lapse into the silence of reminiscence. For instance, that first letter bomb and even the gruesome killing of Ken Saro-Wiwa, or the assassination of Attorney General of the federation should be provocative enough to serve as awakened interest in resistance. But each grisly event was allowed to pass. Heck, it’s one of those things. Yes, you shouted. Yes, you whined. Yes, you mourned. But you may never know the impact of such senseless killings until it’s your family's turn.

Even the sudden death of that lunatic was an opportunity missed. Not many considered it a slap on the face when Abdulsalami Abubakar, Babangida’s boy, was placed as another offering of meat to appease the anger of those wounded lions. Appeasement dey plenty. And is it not those who clamoured for Abacha's continuity that is ruling now? Yet Nigerians expect manner from heaven. They engage in self-deceit. They always have hopeless hope instead of simply confronting those problems that are even glaringly obvious to our pupils. Many of them are so hopeful to the extent of expecting to harvest corn where they had planted okro.

Perhaps it was years of mental torture that have gradually turned people’s mind inactive. Nigerians have been dodging to fight for the cause that would eventually improve their lives. Meanwhile they are willing to accept gratuity in exchange for their conscience. Nigerians have proved Uthman Dan Fodio wrong; they have thrown their scruples into the lagoon. They worship vices, thus moneywoman is praised everywhere she goes, irrespective of how the dough has been acquired. Yet Nigerians are flabbergasted when they heard how much money their leaders have stolen. Some are even pretending as if corruption is alien to Aso Rock or other similar Rocks across their nation.

So Nigerians have become victims of appeasement bit by bit. Gowon was given to the nation as a concession to satisfy demands of a certain people. Shagari, the "least" qualified presidential candidate, was also an appeasement to quench certain thirst. When Ibrahim Babangida’s hanky panky reached its maximum, he realised it and organised an "election" which turned out to be a phony project. He annulled, oh sorry cancelled it, and then stepped aside when he could not stand the criticism anymore.

That singular act indeed was a smart move, for his leaving calmed down certain nerves. The man tactically destroyed whatever the agitation of the then opposition. He appeased certain group of people by feeding them Shonekan to assuage their pain. The then opposition should have rejected the interim government, afterall, another Yoruba man was not the bone of contention. Gosh, the nation was fooled with such appeasement. If I knew then what I know now…

Also, former General Obasanjo, a man known for his Owu characteristic – stubborness – eventually gave way for National Political Reform Conference he had opposed vehemently. In retrospect, I wonder if he had "stepped down" on his own volition, or in furtherance of the policy of appeasement. Well, OBJ needed to organise an impromptu conference in order to trap the opposition so they could babysit his lovely baby – third term. He failed to realise that dream. Did he? We shall see.

Appeasement in the east, appeasement in the west, appeasement up north, appeasement down south. Appeasement… Appeasement everywhere...Appeasement…Rumour of appeasement.

 Now Nigerians are about to miss another opportunity. This time it is the feud between Olusegun Obasanjo and Abubakar Atiku. Instead of letting these worms wriggle to the market place stark naked so they could tear themselves into pieces, some "elder statesman" have started placing small offerings of nutrient at Aso Rock to appease the mighty rain god to pelt down – for the survival of the two worms. 

 Be it elder statesman or younger statesman. Whoever engages in mendacious propaganda over Atiku-Obasanjo imbroglio shall suffer indignity. Anyone who mediates the peace talks for the purpose of preventing Olusegun Aremu Okikiolakan Obasanjo and Atiku Abubakar from confessing their sins shall see the wrath of Olodumare God. Anyone, be it royal father or errand father or church father who dare pray for peace between President OBJ and Vice President AA, or asks God for his divine intervention shall forever be regarded as coup plotters. When we start to write the story, we shall group them among those who have raped their motherland, Period!

Robot  Villager

# 1 ...Read the full article. Posted by Robot| 29.09.2006 14:47

Djister  Villager

# 2 Victims of Appeasement and Torture By Hakeem Babalola Regarding the affairs of their nation, Nigerians always miss every opportunity the creator has thrown in their path. They are quick and forceful - no doubt. By any standard Nigerians are as smart as a whip. Among other Africans they are easily recognised as someone with mental alertness and calculation and resourcefulness. Nigerians are diligent worker or if you prefer industrious. The louche conduct of a few Nigerians notwithstanding. I agree that Nigeria is a rolling comedy of missed opportunities. However, isn't it amazing that in their brilliance as you described and forcefulness, these opportunities till pass them by? The smartness your so pointedly lay before us has nothing to do with the ability to execute what is necessary to achieve the preferred objective. We are good at identifying the problem. Even better at analysing it. What is missing in all this brilliance is the COURAGE to step to the plate and take it on the chin. We have a people who are still timid and reticent and hide behind this notion of 'smartness'. The campaigners fors a better Nigeria lack the courage to step forward hence the discussions are resigned to our beer parlours and living rooms. It seems to me that Nigerians are too idealistic. They have forgetten that idealism does not have a place in modern politics. Perhaps this is the main reason why they engage in false belief whenever certain opportunity knocks their door. Or they are marked with blithe unconcern when it comes to showing affection towards their own mama. However, most of them always paint the picture of a nationalist; they usually moved to quash any attempt at revolt. These deceitful and unreliable scoundrel camouflage in different forms. They are in the army, politics, intellectual establishment, church, and virtually everywhere. Some are called elder statesman, while a host of others have stolen different titles – chief, prince, doctor, pastor and so on. I disagree. Idealism suggests that there is a drive towards reaching such lofty goals. The idealism we seek versus the idealism we practice are two different things. That which we seek is no different from the desires of many in other nations however, the difference lies in the well-structured and documented approach as applied by others. The idealism we practice has a greater focus on the fickle society we live in. It is 'ideal' in our context to aim for the big house, big car, big money. The failure is the realisation that the fundamentals are missing thereby making the whole 'dreaming' experience futile before it begins. We seek the 'shortest' distance to our idealistic dreams. The shortest distances demand unorthodox means of reaching the target. So, no surprise at the 'manner' and 'means' employed by Nigerians of all works of life to achieve their goals. Perhaps it was years of mental torture that have gradually turned people’s mind inactive. Nigerians have been dodging to fight for the cause that would eventually improve their lives. Meanwhile they are willing to accept gratuity in exchange for their conscience. This case has been made over and over again. The lame claim that years of torture may still be a factor in our inability to step up. How much time does anyone have? How long will 'torture', 'slavery' and the colonisation effect run for? In the midst of the 'tortured', 'enslaved' and 'colonised', you have people who have set aside such issues and not used them as excuses againt their success. These are the ones with such capabilities that we need to seek out and put forward. The rest can wallow in self-deceit and sympathy over the fate of their forebearers at the hands of 'ghostly masters'. Gosh, the nation was fooled with such appeasement. If I knew then what I know now… And Now that you know...? Again the question is, will the likes of you the better informed step up? Self-oreservation, mankind's FIRST instinct is more prevalent in Nigeria over these matters. And until such is reduced and Courage and Determination take over the repeat of 'History' remains the order of the day. Also, former General Obasanjo, a man known for his Owu characteristic – stubborness – eventually gave way for National Political Reform Conference he had opposed vehemently. In retrospect, I wonder if he had "stepped down" on his own volition, or in furtherance of the policy of appeasement. Well, OBJ needed to organise an improputu conference in order to trap the opposition so they could babysit his lovely baby – third term. He failed to realise that dream. Did he? We shall see. Remeber the Reform Conference well? A collection of deadbeat old 'friends' who were given the opportunity to live lavishly in Abuja and earn daily pay. Something to do in retirement. With the likes of Adewusi and Oyakhilome telling us Nigeria is corrupt. As if they were not party to the feasting! Where were the 'brains' per 'Sector' of the country? Out doing legitimate self-profitting business. Now Nigerians are about to miss another opportunity. This time it is the feud between Olusegun Obasanjo and Abubakar Atiku. Instead of letting these worms wriggle to the market place stark naked so they could tear themselves into pieces, some "elder statesman" have started placing small offerings of nutrient at Aso Rock to appease the mighty rain god to pelt down – for the survival of the two worms. For as long as the likes of these self-styled 'Elder Statesman/woman' continue at the forefront of Nigerian space, nothing is likely to change. They suddenly know what is good for Nigeria AFTER their own given opportunities to 'grab' what they can while they were if positions that could have been used to improve the lot of the people. Afterall, IBB said he was out to put Nigeria right. And when he was in power? How do these people SUDDENLY get phenomenally perceptive AFTER the fact? Be it elder statesman or younger statesman. Whoever engages in mendacious propaganda over Atiku-Obasanjo imbroglio shall suffer indignity. Anyone who mediates the peace talks for the purpose of preventing Olusegun Aremu Okikiolakan Obasanjo and Atiku Abubakar from confessing their sins shall see the wrath of Olodumare God. Anyone, be it royal father or errand father or church father who dare pray for peace between President OBJ and Vice President AA, or asks God for his divine intervention shall forever be regarded as coup plotters. When we start to write the story, we shall group them among those who have raped their motherland, Period! This part you completely throw me! You dey swear for dis part? No comments! Thank you Hakeem Posted by Djister| 01.10.2006 20:29