Part One: Lagos
First of all, I don’t do politics and I clear the air and clear assumptions when I have to write about political themes, I stopped writing from 2019. The Presidential election held in Nigeria has come and gone but the political complexity of that week still remains. Some political and ethnic incidents played out. I will skip the political events and touch briefly on one main event which reared the appearance of the hydra-headed minotaur.
And focus on this major re-occurrence because one knows the import of such a reckless descent. If you have visited the Genocide Memorial in Kigali and other parts of Rwanda, you will know the consequences of hate speech. Ironically, I had written pieces in 2015 during the Nigerian elections and drew similarities to what I saw at the Kigali Genocide Memorial when I visited Rwanda. And now in 2023, during the Nigerian elections, I find myself writing about the same thing happening in Nigeria. After the process from Kigali, Rwanda like more than 200 million Nigerians, you wonder if many actors do not play in the grave of reputation.
You begin to ruminate if there is a change from 2015 to 2023 in terms of worrying comments. You find them online through social media posts and through Whatsapp groups. Online keyboard warriors (millennials and Generation Z) who are usually paid to stir buckets of discord are competing with baby boomer friends who are in Whatsapp groups spreading tribalism and ethnic bigotry.
Both camps lost the uno spot for the most vile ethnic comments in a long time. Why is that so? Why is it that what is usually discussed in a private discussion becomes a public discourse? One can conclude that it is due to the fact that for the first time in a long time a major presidential candidate from the three main ethnic groups in Nigeria. The vocalized diatribes laced with ethnic bigotry that one reads is nothing short of mindboggling. And for the city of Lagos, its prestige, history and enlightenment, noisy and combustible comments leave you confused and working on misunderstandings.
Anyone who knows and understands the history of the countries in the print of Rwanda and The Genocide Against The Tutsi where more than a million Tutsi were killed in 100 days. Not forgetting the Genocide that happened in Namibia and was committed by German soldiers when I was 19 years old.Th Century (1904 and 1908), where more than 80% of the Herero population and 50% of the Nama population of Namibia were killed by German soldiers. If you understand the consequences of what is happening in these two countries, even the thought of ethnic hate speech will be avoided because it can’t bear much of the fallout. Really hate to read from someone who should know better than to go tribal especially in a city like Lagos.
The founder and chairman of Proshare Nigeria, Mr. Olufemi Awoyemi in a clear social media post on Sunday, 5Th March 2023 states: “If Lagos becomes the Lagos of our dreams, it must be free from ethnic divisions. Above is the password play on the words of Santosh Kalwar, when describing Nepal. As difficult as this may be for some processes at this time, we are only progress based on Strength -In-Numbers. That said, I think everyone who has the will can overcome the emotional state they have been dragged into. However, this mindset should be applied to others who seek progressive development in their country to achieve the nation-state they collectively desire.
Part II: Census
In February 2022, I wrote an article titled “Letter From Lagos, Nigeria: What My Eyes See And My Ears Hear”; after an interesting discussion with a close friend (at the notorious traffic jam on Allen Avenue, Ikeja, Lagos in December 2021) who knows Nigerian politics because this individual is a member of the party who carries the youth card. This individual insight is found about the primaries and who will appear in the primaries of the governing party. And this individual appears again; months before the presidential election.
The presidential election on Saturday, February 25, 2023 gave voters to see a new Nigeria and also to see the founder of a new Nigeria (hard to believe but true.) Why? Wait. Election maps were broken and blown to smithereens; myths were demystified and destroyed like a calabash; lack or absence of responsibility and consequent damages; the myth of the Muslim-Muslim ticket is thrown out the window. Everyone now knows that politicians are responsible and not as usual. You are responsible for your constituency. What people want now is a center of attraction. The people and the electorate are now a beautiful bride.
Also, the court process will be tested in a way that has not been seen for a long time. The Labor Party movement has the opportunity to become a new and real opposition as the party disrupts the political status quo. As seen in Lagos State and the Federal Capital Territory of Abuja. The economic and political representation known in Lagos and Abuja for decades has a different tone this time and for some factors I will leave from this section for party members and insiders to distinguish themselves. And the economic and political representation of Lagos and Abuja reflects the mood. They understand the need and growth for change, real change. Words are enough for the wise.
Now that it is shining like the sun, no one will serve the constituency without looking over their shoulder. Voters will ask questions that must be answered with confidence. Voters now know they can swing their votes to and from politicians.
Some questions to ask; isn’t academia itself illegal? Shouldn’t logistics operations be entrusted to logistics companies that have been tested and know their job?
In another post, Mr. Olufemi Awoyemi stated; “The 2023 National Population and Housing Census will be held from March 29 – April 1, 2023. Proshare analysts argue that this may be the most important socio-political event in a country where entities are less than necessary. The subsequent disruption has taken away focus and planning which is required from/by the community to precede the mandate of CENSUS that will determine/form the basis of development, resource allocation, revenue sharing and electoral positions. Time and focus on elections, without prejudice, do not allow proper interrogation of the process, rules and verification/validation the ethos of the census figures that will lead the activities in the next decade or two. It is important that the focus is shifted back to the basic norms of sub-national political, economic and social development in the Federation and its units. We will remain vigilant and you must too. We will expand this in the next few days to let the public know why this is going to be a sin act g most important thing you do as a citizen.
At this point, I would say that Nigerians can be bent but not broken. Why don’t we break? Our resilience is a culture. Get this, Generation Z has the advantage of having a clear future, they don’t carry the old things of ethnic bias and ethnic bigotry. The obstacles that baby boomers and millennials face are coming to the fore during the presidential election; not faced by Generation Z; that’s why he’s had a taste of what a voting block can do. But they still need to learn strategic thinking from baby boomers who have the patience to play long term.
Passion for what can be done is relevance and Generation Z already knows this. Everyone now knows that “no need for structure is the new structure.” And citizens and Generation Z know this because it only disturbs the political status quo to a reasonable degree. So, it is true that Nigeria has a unique opportunity to lead the path of democracy for Africa (Pan-Africanism.)
Nations develop because of processes. Efidi Bina Jennifer (the woman who at the polling unit in Surulere, was beaten by thugs and suffered a bad injury in her right eye by a porcupine that could be traced) is the clearest example of what passion can do. Heroism in Nigeria is about ordinary people doing good things and doing good deeds. Nigerians can recognize the moment and seize the moment. It is about the journey, eager to continue the journey and to reach the destination.
The real thinking and strategy (which the old order had) that the electorate must now have requires peace. BVAs (Biometric Voter Accreditation System) allow Nigerians to know who actually voted and the same presidential election energy should be used for the census. Why the census? Well, real thinking dictates that the most important thing is the census and not the March 11 election.
Dolapo Aina writes from Kigali, Rwanda.