The sympathy of the oppressed for the oppressor

– We must change the change. – That’s right. – Things cannot continue like this.  – You’re in the spirit brother. – This man sought this position four times with tears and see what he’s finally bringing to the table – go slow, ineptitude, cluelessness, blame game and outright despotism.  – You’re getting there. – […]

– We must change the change.

– That’s right.

– Things cannot continue like this. 

– You’re in the spirit brother.

– This man sought this position four times with tears and see what he’s finally bringing to the table – go slow, ineptitude, cluelessness, blame game and outright despotism. 

– You’re getting there.

– I mean seriously, would he feign ignorance that his police have surrounded the houses of two prominent leaders of the second pillar of democracy?

– Ask him! 

– Must we accept all these signs of dictatorship just because we’re fighting corruption?

– Are you fighting corruption?

– That too is a matter for debate. But how could we allow the denigration of democratic institutions like this? Last time it was the judiciary – judges roused from their beds in the middle of the night, homes ransacked, image and integrity impugned.

– Good recollection.

– Yet, no earth-shattering trial or conviction has emerged.

– On point.

– It’s the archetypal of carrying a log in both eyes yet struggling to remove the mote from the other person’s eyes.

– Good analogy.

– It’s the proverbial case pots calling the kettles black.

– Well depends on what you cook with. Anyway provide evidence o, he who alleges must prove.

– Are you saying you have forgotten so soon? That under this regime, we had backside employment of children of the high and mighty into jumbo paying institutions?

– It’s not corruption until you’ve checked the APC dictionary of corruption.

– Did you see any heads roll?

– They don’t do head rolling – its a sign of dictatorship.

– Nonsense.

– Ministers of this government have done things should make them commit seppuku.

– Here in Naija, shame does not make the rich kill themselves. They work hard for their corruptly acquired wealth. When threatened, they spend a fraction of the loot to buy back the integrity they do not have. We are all complicit. Do you remember the sign on aluta buses back in our university days – every onlooker is either a traitor or a coward?

– I do.

– We have the story of a serving minister who forged or bought a forged NYSC discharge certificate. Nearly a month after the story broke, she has kept mum and the government has said nothing. What kind of double standard is that?

– Huum!

– It’s annoying. How does one keep his cool in the midst of all the scandals that have dogged a regime that campaigned on the mantra of change.

– Well, if you look at things, there is change.

– How?

– Well, change of personnel.

– We have a troop of policemen at the doorsteps of Bukola Saraki and Ike Ekweremadu.

– Oh yes, those lofty symbols of democracy, representatives of the ideal New Naija of our dreams eh. Carry on.

– How is this allowed? What have they done that members of the executhieves have not done worse.

– In other words executive recklessness should be extended to other arms? Soro niyen? Is that the argument?

– No, you’re not getting the gist. It’s the institution. If they continue to denigrate institutions the way they’re doing, then democracy is dead.

– Institution? Institution?

– Yes, the institution they head.

– Oh, okay, yes I do remember that these people are the ultimate symbols of the institutions they head and should be immune from the harassment exclusively reserved for mauled down by stray bullets and the bullying of men of the uniform.

– Stop that sarcasm.

– Well, if you reform a system, it works for everybody. If you ride the tiger, you end up in its belly. You can’t condone a system that disrespects the rights of the citizenry, yet hope that it would respect the rights of the bigwigs. It always boomerangs.

– Our leaders must be respected. If there are respected, they’ll fight for us.

– No sir! There are no leaders except the ones sanctioned or elected by the people. Leaders here are nothing but servants of the people. If the people are beaten, battered, harassed and disrespected – there is no hiding place for the rulers.

– You’re saying…

– I’m saying that I am not losing sleep over what is happening. It’s only in Naija that the people protest injustice to their oppressors – its Stockholm Syndrome. In fact, I enjoy seeing big men taste the dishes they cooked for us from time to time. It was all a circus staged to curry sympathy for those crossing the floor. The carpet crossers have gone to prepare a place for their masters. We’ve moved our unquestioned loyalty back to the side of our oppressors. We’re now set, like the proverbial dog, to return to our vomit at the next elections. We have credible alternatives, but we’ll be electing PDP back to power. The more it changes, the more it stays the same.