By Bolanle Bolawole (Edited)
If we cannot blame the president because he is not the stuff presidents are made of, then, it becomes imperative that we seek ways of surviving under his government.
Northern Nigeria versus Southern Nigeria master versus slave and bully versus victim scenario playing out in Nigeria points in one direction – Direct confrontation by whatever means is inevitable! It is unfortunate that the Southern governors would speak and one inconsequential trade organization representing cattle herders will have the effrontery to counter them! As if that is not enough insult, some scavengers in the Presidency will also open their mouths with their brains closed to showcase their utter stupidity and start raining insults on elected governors! Seems that is the only qualification needed to get a job in the presidency in the first place! Granted that Buhari’s school certificate is harder to find than a needle in a haystack and it is, therefore, safe to say that it is non-existent, I can, with a clear conscience, excuse him because he may be ignorant of the consequences of his utterances, actions, and inaction as well as those of his aides! If we cannot blame the president because he is not the stuff presidents are made of, then, it becomes imperative that we seek ways of surviving under his government.
The North has turned into a bully that sees the South as a conquered territory and would continue to demand more and more until we say “Enough” and refuse to give.
One of the first rules for survival is: Stand up to the bully; if you do not, he will continually demand more from you!
I recall my days as a pupil at CKC, Ibadan when two pupils shared a short bench. I happened to share one with a bully. First, he ruled a little bit more than half the bench and declared his own half a “no-go” area. I didn’t mind because I could sit conveniently on the part, he allowed me. Needless to say that he kept on reducing my portion until I could only perch with half of one-half of my buttocks. It was uncomfortable but the alternative was to be beaten to stupor or death; so, I endured it without a whimper. Next, he started demanding half of my lunch money! I gave it to him. I’m sure by now you’ll guess he started demanding for the whole amount! I was bitter but I still handed it over to him! Needless to say that whatever belonged to me that he wanted, he simply stretched forth his hands and collected without a whimper from me! This continued until the day of the guava!
My mom came back from the market with a couple of guavas; what was unique about this one was that it was a white guava. In those days the common variety was the pink guava, and this was my first time seeing a white variety. I put it in my school box and rushed off to school only for this bully to demand both my lunch money and the guava! It was too much for me to bear. I offered to give him half but he refused; he wanted the whole! That day something snapped in me. I refused to hand over the guava; I ate it! He swore to send me to hell when school closes. I tried to run but was prevented; so I was forced to face him. When the moment came, I rushed into him, determined to leave a mark on him before my trip to hell but was shocked to find him on the floor beneath me! Needless to say that he had a meal of sand that I force-fed him! From that day, I was free from his bullying but now I am ashamed to admit that I became him and started bullying him till my father found out and cured me of that madness.
The North has turned into a bully that sees the South as a conquered territory and would continue to demand more and more until we say “Enough” and refuse to give. They will not stop without a fight because we have for so long allowed them to have their way in subverting the Nigerian Federation. The Southern governors are awake, albeit late! What about our elected representatives? It is time we began to monitor them and know on whose side they are! When matters affecting us are debated, those of them found wanting should be recalled”
