Checking addiction and its effects on society

I wish to discuss addictions in all ramifications and its negative consequences on man and his society. There are three types of addiction revolving around man as the centerpiece of attention and castigation, substance addiction, behavioral or process addiction and position addiction. While substance addiction involves drug abuse, alcoholism etc, behavioral or process addiction is […]

I wish to discuss addictions in all ramifications and its negative consequences on man and his society. There are three types of addiction revolving around man as the centerpiece of attention and castigation, substance addiction, behavioral or process addiction and position addiction.

While substance addiction involves drug abuse, alcoholism etc, behavioral or process addiction is mood altering behavior such as gambling, sexual activity, eating disorders, spending spree and over indulgence in entertainment. Without forgetting the most intoxicating of them all, position addictions. This is a kind of addiction associated with power, influence and affluence. It is the type Nigerian politicians cultivate do or die mentality to acquire through the ballot and the military through the barrel of the gun.

Just like every other type of addiction, the position addict enjoins his power, influence or affluence at the expense of the less privileged poor masses. In Nigeria today, the society is in the throes of all of these types of addictions. The youths in the face of disillusionment are hook to one brand of substance or the other for escapism. Across the broad spectrum of gender, age and social status, behavioral or process addiction has eaten deep into the people’s way of life.

Why is the African continent especially Nigeria the largest market for imported products from industrial countries of the world? We can locate the answer at the doorstep of “Addiction” to foreign products. Today, medical tourism has entered the lexicon of our gluttonous addiction. Political elites, top public and civil servants and religious leaders are culpable of addiction to foreign exotic taste. They caused capital flight by their globetrotting in search of safe haven for their stolen and looted funds.

Where are the African intelligentsias today? Unlike in the days of yore when those confronted with conflict and contradictions generated by western values reacted. They were the educated people imprisoned by the external events in their own indigenous society. They have no alternative than to react violently and relentlessly to the restless moving world in which they are captivated. Such captivated intelligentsias were the communal elites that often fight to liberate their communities from the clutches of imperialism or otherwise become the nationalists who fought the colonialists to attain independence for their countries.

Today, across the continent of Africa, cultural and religious imperialism through media imperialism have inundated the young African youths that they can no longer think and reason straight out of the box. They are imbued with numb sensibility to the social realities of their time. Why? Because they are drowning in myriad of addictions.

Finally, across the spheres of social religious and political divide, the elites are caught in rabid position addiction. Their ultimate goals are power, influence and affluence to the detriment of the poor masses. Central to the fundamental focus of my proffered solutions are; immediate and systematic shift from religious doctrines to emphasis on State ideology stringent State promotion of moral and ethical conducts, promotion of diversity in our heterogeneous culture and national citizenship. Furthermore, enforcement of patriotism, manifesting in respect for national symbols, public properties and strengthening social institutions. Here lies the war within that had been ravaging the existence of our society, Nigeria.

Ogbu A. Ameh writes from Abuja

Who are politicians actually fooling?

It was reported earlier this week that a former national chairman of the PDP, Benue senator, Barnabas Gemade, had dumped the PDP for the SDP, barely eight weeks after he joined the PDP. Gemade was among 14 senators who defected from the APC in July.  He said his decision to leave the PDP was the same that made him leave the APC, citing impunity and  lack of respect for the rule of law as enshrined in the nation’s constitution and lack of  internal democracy. But it appears politicians are fooling some people, and who are those people?

Abubakar Musa, Sokoto

2019 elections and security bias

The 2019 general elections should be protected by Nigerians, either the ruling or opposition parties should be held accountable for what they do or fail to do. Nigerians have their country to protect and should show the security agencies that they would not condone bias.

Emmanuel James Audu, Kubwa, Abuja

Planned mandatory use of national identity numbers

The federal government’s announcement of plans to enforce the use of National Identification Number (NIN) by January is putting the cart before the horse. How many Nigerians have registered and how many of those that registered have got the identity cards years after registration? The government should find ways of helping those that registered to get their cards to encourage others to register.

Hadiza Usman, Maitama, Abuja

Epileptic power andtelecom network

The mobile networks of all the telephone service providers have been epileptic for over four weeks now. Does this mean the regulatory authorities are not aware of this development? It is even disheartening that the network providers are engaged in deceitful advertisements despite their failures, especially on internet subscriptions.

Abiola Kayode, Karu, Nasarawa State

Please clear Kurudu market road

I wish to appeal to the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) task force to please move to Kurudu road and clear trading along the road by the market which blocks free flow of traffic every day.  The habit of trading along the road, leading to parking of vehicles on the highway beside the market poses grave danger to people and should be taken seriously. If the AEPB pursues petty traders along the roads or streets, they should recognize the menace along Kurudu road and urgently do something about it now before it’s too late.

Philomena Okoro, Navy Quarters, Karshi Abuja