“When you hear people making hateful comments, stand up to them. Point out what a waste of it is to hate, and you could open their eyes” – Taylor Swift, an American songwriter
Last month, this writer attention was drawn to a Nigerian movie by my wife titled “Love in every word ” produced by Omoni Oboni, one of the brightest actress that has graced the screen in Nigeria. After being compelled to watch the movie by my better half, this writer understood why the movie was given the title.
While the beautiful movie that still trends on the social media centres on love lines , this writer on a closer observation has discovered “hate in every word” as opposed to love from the replies of the presidency to critics under president Ahmed Bola Tinubu administration.
With the admonition of Taylor Swift, the American versatile song writer, this essay is about applying her advice by standing up to hateful comments and opening the eyes of the haters to know that it is a waste to hate.
Under the second republic,the nation rose to the rude shock of president Shehu Shagaris adviser on political affairs, Dr Chuba Okadigbo in a reply to Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe deprecation of president Shagaris leadership ,decided to throw the one known as “Zik of Africa” under the train by dismissing his comment as “ranting of an ant” .
To justify his position as a political adviser to the president,the African respect for old age had to be jettisoned,and the man the inimitable wordsmith Dr Kingsley Ozumba Mbadiwe, popularly called K.O described as the “tallest tree in Nigeria” had to be cut to size.
Dr Okadigbos unguarded statement under the time in question triggered outrage with the Owelle of Onitsha and first ceremonial president of Nigeria offering a terse reply:
“Any young person who does not respect old age will grow up to meet it “. Dr Okadigbos reply to an elder Statesman statement became a road not be travelled by those who did not want a place in the hall of infamy.
What are we witnessing today with presidency or presidential aides in terms of replies to critics? Hateful and hurtful comments flying from all corners as soon as citizens exercise their inalienable right of freedom of speech by having a contrary opinion with government.
Verbal missiles are fired through the presidential aides , with the view of frightening the critics . With hate in every line ,press releases and statements are issued.
At the just concluded 60th birthday colloquium of the former Deputy speaker of the house of Representative, RT honourable Emeka Ihedioha , few distinguished citizens used the opportunity to ventillate their views on democracy and about the government in place.
From those that spoke the presidency decided to select those to reply and to reply them with hateful statements for displaying audacity of courage.
At the colloquium organised by the former governor of Imo state , Emeka Ihedioha , Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, a former president of Nigeria, called to question the imposition of State of emergency in Rivers state and the suspension of the two arms of government,the executive and the legislature in that state. He went on to opine:
Democracy in Africa has failed because it is not African,it didn’t have our culture, culture and way of lives. You will say, ‘go to court” when you know that you can’t get justice”
The irrepressible and vocal former president, went on to conclude :
“Democracy is dying in Africa and to save it ,it should be made in the context of Africa ” . To the presidency , it is expected that everybody should accept hook line and sinker whatever political decision it takes ,as dissent amounts to abominable act.
The presidency in disclosing displeasure at former president Obasanjos comment on the suspension of democratic order in Rivers state for six months and by extension the state of democracy in Africa did so through the special Assistant to president Bola Ahmed Tinubu,Dada Olusegun,who did not disappoint as he spewed words of hate while taking on the former president.
He described the Otta farmer and famous letter writer as the ” grand father of hypocrisy”, who lacked the moral authority to criticise president Bola Tinubu. The age -long respect to which the Yoruba culture accords elders had to be put aside for the sake of politics.
The presidency was not done with firing verbal missiles at the critics ,as the presidential candidate of the Labour party in the 2023 general election, Peter Obi who before now have been the punching bag of overzealous presidential aides was equally rebuked for his comment on Democracy in Nigeria.
Peter Obi for the record stated :
“If you look at where we are today ,it is like they (PDP) started in 1999 laid the foundation. Some people came and took it to decking,and some people came and knocked everything down”.
The former governor of Anambra state was stating his opinion of democracy in the country,but such statement from Obi must not go unchallenged as long as presidential aides that wants to justify their appointments are concerned.
Bayo Onanuga , who appears to be on the case of Peter Obi since the government of president Ahmed Bola Tinubu came to the saddle,picked up the gauntlet once again and wrote inter alia:
“I listened multiple times to former Governor Peter Obis statement in this clip,where he claims that democracy has collapsed in Nigeria. His hyperbolic remarks ,suited for the headlines ,have been made without deep reflection and lack solid logical foundation” He wrote.
Onanuga was not done as he continued:
” Only a discontented and disgruntled Peter ,who benefits from the very free speech democracy provides , could perceive such a democratic downfall through his lens . If democracy had indeed collapsed,as Peter claims ,and we were living under a regime antithetical to democratic principles,he would not have been able to make his comments on Monday ” he argued.
Reading the reply of the presidential aide ,you could every line breathing with hate for Peter Obi. Imagine using words like “discontented ” and “disgruntled ” to describe one that has made his personal opinion about democracy? Such communication of hate emanating from the presidency demonstrates disdain for freedom of speech. Even ,if the presidency must reply to every critic ,must it be in a toxic language?
Must the presidency or presidential aides wear combat gears when replying to fellow citizens? What had happened to the culture of respect for elders and recognising the office of the citizen?
Just like Onanuga warn Peter Obi in his press statement to “watch his words” it is actually the presidential aides and the presidency that should “watch words” used on elder statesmen and citizens of Nigeria who meant well for the country.
Dr Uche Akunebu,is the Head of Poets of the World (Poet Del Mundo) Nigerian chapter and editor of African book series of the International Human rights Arts festival,based in New York.