I must say from the perspective of a Nigerian, it is rather fascinating how there is a fairly clear divide between what you call the Left and Right. At the risk of sounding hyperbolic, our political fabric is not comprised of Left and Right views. Intrestingly most of the subjects of the ideologies which constitutes left or right views in Nigeria are taboo. Religion is forced down your throat from childhood. We build everything on it and then we place it on top of everything and any questioning of it is met with deliverance services and ostracization if your demons of curiousity persist. We do not discuss same sex anything, in fact same sex interraction is a crime punishable by 14 years inprisonment and Same sex marriage is a capital offence punishable by death so that tells you all you need to know about how we treat the subject. This is not to say that we do not have gays amongst us. I would provide statistics to back this up but nobody would even dare to do the research; cases of same sex interractions are rampant especially in our single sex schools as well as in the largely Muslim conservative North where casual interractions with women are prohibited by sharia law so men are forced to spend an unhealthy amount of time with each other. By the way this is mostly prevailent amongst the lower classes. Gender equality is discussed with an overly antagonistic tone on the part of “feminist social media” and met with a humourous one on the other side where they barely bother to veil their mockery of the cause. The discussion about gender equality in Nigeria is a practical joke especially since more than half of the population in the most populated part of the country are women who practically live for the dictates of a chronically patrichical society. I dare say that the debate about the equality of the sexes is only tolerated in this society because it doesn’t have anything to do with actual sex. Little wonder why the question of abortion and choice is never brought up by either side in the debate? Taboo! God forbid that we have a public conversation about women’s rights or lack thereof to do what they want with whatever happens inside their bodies.
We need to learn to let go of our inhibitions and start to have more honest conversations in this country as to the elements that form the fabric of our social and political lives.
Something remarkable is happening in Nigeria. There is a new generation of pan Nigerians emerging onto the scene. A group of young, driven, hopeful and hardworking dreamers, developers, and leaders who see beyond the limitations and drawbacks of political and socio-economic issues and are buying into a vision of a new world, a vision which is exploding at an exponential rate worldwide. A dream so big that it overshadows with ease, decades past of mistakes and offers incredible opportunities for the future and indeed the very present. This group of people is not from Mars. They are amongst you and your friends. As a matter of fact, many of them have been dismissed by you and your friends as pipe dreamers or whatever else you might choose to call them. Call them what you will but they are here to stay and believe it, so are their dreams. I attended a conference recently where the majority of attendees were young entrepreneurs between the ages of 19 and 35. These folks and tho
Very Interesting and articulate article. Nigerians are mostly hypocrites, who would rather talk about this things in hush tones or totally turn a blind eye. The earlier we begin to talk about these issues openly the better.
ReplyDeleteGood one CJ