Column No. 6: A very Nigerian welcome to 2021

‘May you live in interesting times.’ – Ancient Chinese curse.

Congratulations are in order if you’re reading this, because it means you’ve made it into the year 2021. What makes this a laudable feat? Well, for starters, last year wasn’t quite a banner one for a number of reasons, chief among them the currently-raging Covid-19 outbreak. The crisis affected practically everything globally, including lifestyles, social activities, politics, business, education, entertainment, travel, etc. The recent announcement and distribution of a vaccine gave everyone hope, even in the face of the potentially dampening news of a newer, deadlier strain of the virus. But we soldier on, as humans tend to.

In the midst of the pandemic, we saw the eruption of the #EndSARS movement, its breakdown into a nationwide carnival of violence between protesters and law enforcement agents, and its politicization on many levels, mostly low. We also saw the widespread looting, theft, and destruction that trailed the discovery in many states, of warehouses or other storage venues of ‘palliatives’ meant to cushion the hardship brought upon by the coronavirus pandemic. We saw the return – and eventual spike – of kidnappings that often turn deadly. Even Boko Haram’s attacks seemed to gain more bite. All this, don’t forget, smack in the middle of a global pandemic. ‘Poor Nigeria,’ you will be forgiven to think.

You would also think that as the world has gone through the wringer – or is still going through one – we would learn our lessons and, as they say, ‘take dressing’. But no, we won’t, and I can already tell you why: Our national obsession with ethnicity, religion, and the extreme politicization of both, which won’t ever let us face, dissect, and solve our biggest problems. Instead of discussing how to make our country better, we get reductive about the important things, and choose to fight about Christmas messages from vocal clerics, conspiracy theory-laden rescues of abducted schoolboys, shadowy political godfathers and their 2023 ambitions, and many other trivialities that do nothing to improve the quality of our lives.

But the sad truth is I don’t blame us for being the way we are. It stems, quite simply, from the PTSD that comes from just being Nigerian. I mean, where else would a task force supposed to enforce wearing of masks in a federal capital make arrests and bundle offenders up like goats onto tightly-packed Hilux vans? Where else would a service chief cancel an annual conference and order participants to self-isolate, only for him to traipse around the North-East ‘on duty’? Where else – and this is my favourite – would a Jheri-curled D-list lawmaker/politician physically assault a lady on camera in a sex toy shop, make a feeble half-apology, and months later announce his interest in running for governorship of his state? Only in Nigeria, of course.

More examples of PTSD-causing nonsense that every Nigerian has to deal with daily also include the on-going NIN ninnery, wherein citizens have to go through the arduous task of queuing in large crowds and suffering to register for the National Identity Number, all the while exposed to the danger of infection. What kind of official or policy-maker would ever think of such an exercise during a pandemic? A Nigerian one, of course. And instead of coming together – putting our heads together – to come up with solutions, we prefer to colour everything in wide ethnic and religious-tinged brushstrokes, while we froth at the mouth, touting old wives’ tales that nourish no-one and nothing.

That’s why, I believe, in 2021 every Nigerian should do their best to engage in fruitful discourse, while remaining sensitive and respectful about the perspective of others, no matter how they may differ from ours. We should study our own history, and that of our neighbours’, and how both affect each other. We should judge less, and try to understand each other. We should take time and educate ourselves about processes that govern us and those who govern us. We should also actively write balanced petitions, call elected officials to order, and even protest if necessary. Peacefully and safely, of course, as we’ve seen how quickly lawful assemblies spiral downwards to become rabid mobs or Covid-19 super-spreader events.

And to our ‘leaders’ (the inverted commas represent the looseness of the term), apart from growing a conscience and a good heart, try and have a good head. We will come together if you show good examples, and take your jobs seriously. You see, Nigerians need to feel like someone is acting on their behalf. You know, leading them? Don’t get me wrong: We don’t need someone deciding what is in our best interest or not. We need someone who will fight for us, in the best possible way (yes, I’m looking at you, President Muhammadu Buhari). Step up and do good, or better.

Just like I quoted in the opening of this column in an admittedly foreboding manner, while everyone the world over is currently living in interesting times à la ancient China, it is even more so for us poor Nigerians. Well, you could say that even if we’re battered and bruised, at least we made it into another year. But like they say, it is he who fights and lives that lives to fight another day. And boy, have we fought! In a nutshell, as you welcome 2021 – or 2021 welcomes you – strive to become a better version of yourself from that of 2020, a better Nigerian citizen or leader, as well as a better human being. So, welcome to the New Year. Believe it or not, we earned it.