Where values crash

I always have problems validating certain axioms about the Nigerian experience. One of such axioms says Nigeria is blessed with vast human and material resources. It tickles to the point of a moronic laughter. It is virtually impossible for me reconcile this expression with the reality. How can a country which is blessed with vast human resources, let us forget the material, present an utterly debased form of humanity?

I think the problem lies in the very definition of human resources. We tend albeit erroneously to think that human resources are about trained, skilled hands. Yes, it may be that but it is certainly much more. Human resources are also about the values of society imparted to the individual members. For instance when citizen Imeh, the cab driver in Abuja who returned a brief case stuffed with foreign currency to security agents was asked why he did such a “foolish” thing, his riposte was that “I am a driver not a thief.” Now when we place such a character beside another who is a “devout” catholic and an architect who ran the country’s foreign ministry during the regime of General Abacha but who told the Pope that there were no political prisoners in Nigeria, who between the two is a ‘human resource’? A cab driver and a “devout” catholic architect who lied to the Pope.

If Nigeria has vast human resources, her Inspector General of the Police wouldn’t require a photograph to believe that former EFCC chairman, Nuhu Ribadu came to Nigeria even after his PPRO had sensibly explained that the police was not on the lookout for Ribadu because he was not a wanted man. And yet this is the third IG since Tafa Balogun, where is Nigeria’s vast human resources when characters like these are thrown up into prominent positions in the country? Did the IG see the photograph of the Atlas Cove before he believed it was attacked by the militants in MEND? Did he ask for the photograph?

Therefore, when a colleague at the Guardian was gruesomely murdered by unknown gunmen last Sunday and the IG said he was going to get to the root of the matter, the hairs at the nape of my neck stood. Ordinarily in a serious country, finding the killers would not have gone beyond an efficient ASP but in Nigeria, the IG is promising that the killers will be found. If the IG gets to the root of the matter, I am sure he wouldn’t believe it until he sees the photograph of the root.

Do police have the antecedent of getting to the root of matters in Nigeria? But then probably he meant getting to the roots just like the police did in the case of Dele Giwa, Marshall Harry, Abayomi Ogundeji, Godwin Agbroko and others.

Some people are miffed that President Umar Yar’Adua will not attend the United Nations Summit, preferring to go to Saudi Arabia instead. I can’t understand their outrage. For me, the man has good reasons to avoid the United Nations. What will he go to say there? Sell his 7-point agenda to the developed world? Will he talk on global warming as many factories in Nigeria have closed down or contribute meaningfully to the debate on growing poverty in the world? But Saudi Arabia beckons better. He might get reprieve for his tormenting ailments plus edifying himself spiritually. As Fela used to say during his life time, Second base jare.

GADFLY goes on a short holiday from today. Dear reader, be seeing you around D.V.

RESPONSES

Re- Between Corruption and Mutiny

Are you surprised the way the Nigerian Army treated the case of the Akure 27? Corruption and man’s inhumanity to man is greatest in the Army but they claim to be the holiest. The rot in the Army stinks to high heavens. Who is deceiving who? - Kunle Olugbodi 08136119111.

The Army has failed to probe the corruption in its top echelon which has denied these officers of their sweat-brimming entitlements, hence they used the ‘Ganistic approach’ in demanding their dues. Why should the Army punish them and fail to punish the corrupt top brass? It is unfair, they should retrace their steps. - Ganiyu Quadri 08134529360.

We shall deceive ourselves till the end of Nigeria. Ninety per cent of Nigerians are ‘mugun’ five per cent are semi mugun. The remaining five are the smart ones ‘using’ the rest of us as pawns and playing ludo games with our lives. - 08023841619.

Sir, the press should be praised for the mitigation of the sentences. If they had been silent, evil would have prevailed. The Ogas should have known the pedigree of Ondo State, the setting of the demonstration. They should look for GANI’s biography. But shouldn’t we blame the rebellious 27 for thinking that public demonstration, an exclusive right of we bloody civilians, does not involve the Khaki constituency? - Dayo Oladeji Saki, Oke Ogun 08027278748.

I agree with you that the Army is not willing to punish corruption which created the so called mutiny. Why? The Army is a product of the corrupt social system. No, the answer to the problem is to create a nation where no man is oppressed, which class will build the new society? The oppressed. Thank you. - Amos Ejimonye, Kaduna. 08039727512.