A tale of two absurdities

Ours is an interesting place to live. You will hear some things, those things said based on the truest conviction, and you would intellectually puke if not that you are used to so much respected absurdities. Well, personally, I am used to many sorts of absurdities; so many that a list will require a little […]

Ours is an interesting place to live. You will hear some things, those things said based on the truest conviction, and you would intellectually puke if not that you are used to so much respected absurdities. Well, personally, I am used to many sorts of absurdities; so many that a list will require a little space. Of recent, two of the many set my mind for an exercise.

One, the popular but stupid, misguided belief that there was once a crusade of the ‘Fulani Jihadists’ that was on its way to the Atlantic, but somehow, unceremoniously so, stopped at Ilorin, Kwara State. Never mind the historical fallacy behind such an illogical misconception, what is most astonishing is the fact that there are folks that still believe that where the forefathers of the earlier ‘Jihadists’ failed, their great grandchildren are now trying hard to actualize the (in)famous failed dream. So much for critical thinking!

Two, another illogical but ‘well-oiled’ fallacy that the Fulani were, and still are the architects of the failed Nigeria’s project. The belief seems to postulate that Nigeria’s myriad problems will miraculously disappear into nothingness once the Fulani ethnic group is exterminated.

What these two seemingly well-propagated half-truths, but nevertheless false narratives, portend is the dearth of critical thinking among those considered enlightened, informed and educated. You may be forced to believe those among the mild pessimists who say that there is so much to common sense than mere educational records.

At the end, you will have to forgive me if any honest person out there feels ‘insulted’.

There is nothing special in comparing regional or ethnic failure. Nothing, absolutely nothing. Apportioning blame to a certain region or ethnic group will not solve our problems. This is just a way of telling those masquerading as public intellectuals (to harass and intimidate those they perceive as their inferiors) that they have no monopoly for spewing nonsense.

Adamu Tilde can be reached at [email protected]