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.
Reacting to the result of the most recent referendum in Britain where they have voted to leave the European Union, I'd like to point out a positive lesson that is being ignored in the wake of the development. I am talking about the sheer honesty of democracy, albeit working against apparently superior reasoning. It is yet another example of how democracy takes power from the so called superior minority and places it in the palms of the vast and mostly ignorant majority, to do with it as they will. The people have spoken and history has been made. Whether it will be for better or worse is only a question of time. This brings me to the issue that is weighing on my mind today. The right to Self determination is one of the core liberties of the individual as well as the society at large. If a person or people have that right taken away from them either blatantly or via proxy, such a person or people are automatically robbed of the imagination and courage required to develop themselves...
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