NIgeria And It’s Unending Paradoxes -By Clement Uwayah

Nigeria sometimes ago, and perhaps still subsisting, earned itself the appellation of being the country harbouring the happiest people on earth. That appellation at any point in time, in the history of our country, reveals the fact that we are living in paradoxes and that the country is a paradox, as such appellation is rather highly indicative of our not being defined by the realitues of our social economic status, which had remained unfriendly to the vast majority of the citizens, except offcourse, the thieving and self-serving ones in our political space.

A paradox is a statement, or proposition, or situation that seems illogical, absurd or self-contradictory, but which, upon further scrutiny, may be logical or true- or at least contain an element of truth. Paradoxes often express ironies and incongruities and attempt to reconcile seemingly opposing ideas. So, it is clear that aside from being paradoxical, we couldn’t be a happy people, talkless of being near the happiest in the whole wide world, else we could infer that suffering maketh a man.

Truly, our case in Nigeria is a typical characteristic of the paradox illustrated in George Orwell’s Animal Farm, in which it is stated that, “All animals are equal, but some are more equal to the others”. That paradox illuminated the hypocrisy inherent in ruling systems that claim egalitarianism while erecting unjust heirarchies. This is exactly the position in Nigeria. The unjust heirarchies and hypocrisies of our government officials reverberates deeply. In their eyes, thirty thousand naira is too much for a minimum wage, yet same government claims to feed each single person in a correctional centre with fourteen thousand naira daily.

No doubt, our ways and approaches to issues makes our country arguably a theatre of absurdities. It is very much inherent in us and for us to exhibit such paradoxical traits that makes it appear like, failure leads to success, the only certainty is uncertainty, the more choices we have the harder it is to choose, and so on and so forth. Yes indeed, the situation we found ourselves has made such paradoxes appear like a norm. As bad as it has been, actors and comedians now have an easy ride to stardom. So much to act and rehearse and laugh about. What ought to cause us sorrows, hard and sobber reflections are now our sources of succour. The more the absurds, the more we laugh and make the social media buzz. Absurdities sells so well and has made Nigeria comical. Why not, with snakes and gorrilas now swallowing money. But in all, the nations comical status seems to have endorsed and enthrenced the awful, making it a sorrowful happy nation.

Nigeria’s paradoxical nature is in all aspects of our existence, ranging from the social, economic, religious and political settings. Often times, the moves and actions of our political actors derives from statements or propositions expounded by the citizens. Analyses and /or imagined paradoxical theories often seemed to have triggered off eventual state acts. We are in a nation where the script, if not pre-written, gets sold through our line of thoughts and propositions.

Unfortunately, such lines of thoughts by commentators on national issues do not hint, sell or emphasize the unacceptability of such theories nor advance expected public outcry and reactions, but often confined to the ‘nothing can happen’ notion and mentality that always left citizens in awe, and so, never reactive. This situation cut for us the image of people suffering and smiling. Every successive government or administration had maintained this approach to governance, in a reflection of the “All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others”, examplified in Gorge Orwell’s Animal Farm. That paradox was meant to illuminate the hypocrisy inherent in ruling systems that claim egalitarianism while erecting unjust heirarchies.

How does one reckon with undeniable facts that we are a great poor nation? A country of educated illiterates. rich thieves, concerned traducers, beloved haters, consoling traitors, enlightened dafts. A society of holy sinners, repulsive progressives, godly devils, dark angels, satanic pastors, and loyal betrayers. Yet, on the contrary, we parade a long list of high profile men and women that remain unbeatable in their various fields of endeavors round the globe, hence Nigeria fits the description of a dependable failure. Yes, Nigeria seems a dependable failure because though it boasts rich human resources, yet it remains retarded.

Every aspect of our life spring surprises, which is the characteristic nature of paradoxes. Outside the shores of our country, we have tendencies to excel beyond imagination, but within we become no do wells. A country whose name is bad in the ears of the international community, but whose citizens are key players in the developmental strides of many other countries round the world. We are truly hard to describe. A society of thieving elites and politicians whose priorities remain to perpetuate themselves in office of service without serving. This reflects in our retarded growth and development. Unfortunately our rules of engagement seems to be that, there is no rule, arguably because the system seems to have failed and defiled necessary rejigings.