The Gulf stream and the Whiff of Change – Spider’s Web as a Wall Wall as a Spider’s Web -By Jimi Bickersteth

The winds were northerly, and the 737 Boeing took off into them, turning right a minute after it lifted off. Soon I lost sight of the Abuja landscape under as the aircraft entered the clouds. The impersonal white veil had often seemed a beautiful curtain: one thing I’ll need now the curtain was drawn would be rest. Rest – an essential commodity, so badly in short supply this days.

At home later in the evening, as I sat on the porch, keeping vigil of the grey clouds, (the clouds again), of the sky that was not saying or revealing much to my senses, my German shepherd, Flint, kept rustling along my ankles and bare feet. Suddenly, the thunder rumbled in the distance.

As the approaching storm neared the dog tore into the front yard to meet it, furiously doing battle. As it passed, Flint, returned to my company on the porch, convinced the storm had been driven away. Just then, a revelation came to me, could our people and the political class be likened to the encounter earlier recounted, of Flint and the rumbling storm.

The gulf stream, the large difference or division between the people’s feelings, opinions about their politics and politicians; a gulf which is quite enormous and which had witnessed a constant movements of people drifting in and or out of the streaming wide, steamy deep crack, and, all seeing spider web as a wall and a wall as spider’s web.

A coldness begin to creep around my heart, I became tense and nervous and straight to my blotter. As I continued to pound the keyboard slowly the coldness dissolved, leaving behind it a feeling I did not understand, but it was not a bad feeling. The feeling that the nation listen and yet do not listen. What one is feeling already exists, like words on a piece of paper, to be read or not, to be listened to or not.

What is really happening to our people. Once in this nation there was peace, there was some order. Every person knew what it was they should do and how that thing should be done. The nation knew, then, what was good and what was evil. But this days does not appear to know anything about happenings in their nation. It is as if a great storm is among our people. We have lost our values, traditions and with it our self respect. We politicise everything, sentimentally. It has gotten to a stage that we are now toying with our future. How?

Hmmm! The nation’s young men with their new found hunger for ladies pants and propensity for easy money, yahoo extra or was it plus, have learn bad ways, that has made them strangers to the fatherland. The young girls have become prostitutes all over town, with their stupid, near- naked dressing and bleached skin. Curious enough, they behave as if the elders are old and belonged to the past and that whatever they say is true, but there is a great deal they could not say, and can never say. When I hear tales of happening in town and the rough life in tow, children been corrupted and initiated into cults, inducted into drug and substances abuse clubs, it is as if my head were filled with a puddle of muddy water and my heart as dark as a valley under a raincloud.

I look into the crystal ball into the future, it is as if I see a night that has no end. I wonder if the knowledge that, an old ox follows the path to water that he learned as a calf, is true. This crops of young elites think that the flight into a new life will be joyless unless it is stolen. I paused here, looking into the dim and flickering lights that come from the many fires which show sharp and black, the noise of generators in the background, the pollution and at the glow of stars; my throat aches because of the tears locked in it.

What the young men say with voices that are sad, admiring, fearful. Nor do they speak as one feels, as if a road to an exciting new nation where everything is possible. Even as they measured their words, and there is a quiet bitterness that hurts me, for it says to me: What a fool you are with your big hopes and dreams.

This is a sad and terrible time for the nation, whose been led by sixty year olds and above; leaders who have crippled the future the nation is striving for. You can’t solve a problem with the elements that caused it. I shuddered.

The politicians have since the 1999 return to civil rule settled like a locust over the nation and, like the locusts in early morning, cannot take flight for the heaviness of the dew on their wings. But the dew that weights the nation down is the money the political class, the Senate, the House of Representatives, the governors, the judges, security votes et al made from the commonwealth.

This politicians are peculiar, stupid and clever, kind and cruel, dense and shrewd, but all, all say one thing, if they say it in different ways. They think they protect the nation from its ignorance until that ignorance is lightened. They will only be allowed free when the nation has learned to stand on its feet like a child who let’s go his mother’s skirts. But whatever they say their actions are the same.

They take the people as fools, they use our monies to acquire big mansions and exotic cars from the proceeds of the factories and industrial concerns they have bought off the nation; their lives are built on our work, and yet everyday they insult our psyche as they flaunt their ill gotten wealth and bind us in amnesia. Call us lazy and stupid and everyday the politicians grow more rich for doing near nothing and the nation more poor.

Truly it is an evil time, and many of our compatriots become evil, they learn to:
i. steal, because government functionaries steal too, one of them whom the nation thought was a stickler for conviction and a gentleman officer, went as far as rubbing it in, when in one of his books, he wrote that, I paraphrase, I was not a saint, I stole, but my vice stole more than me.

ii. murder, because politicians have taught them to kill, maim and deal ruthless with perceived opponents.

iii.They learn the way of easy hatred because there is no love lost between the Fulani politicians and the republican Igbos; a wide chasm between the Yoruba politicians, in spite of their avowed sophistications, amongst themselves as a group, and either the Igbos or the Hausas. Hence, the premium on marginalisation, resource control, restructuring and recourse to privatisations.

This thistle politicians, all powerful, rich and clever have amongst themselves, erudite scholars, judges, some not too sound or really educated senators and elected Representatives, and they altogether form a group that did not have taste which is the product of certain education, either supervising or partaking in the mindless fleecing of the nation’s commonwealth, with no sense of fitness which is a byproduct of feeling at home in this world.

It is pathetic to note how much of our stolen money this group of people have, stashed away in foreign Banks while Nigerians are sleeping and waking in hunger. These politicians dazed us at the campaign’s, hands rising and falling, their steady, intent eyes fixed searching the peoples secret thoughts. Some throwing two ‘De-rica’ measures of unpolished Rice and #2000. They know that, all our life our body has been speaking with the voices of hunger: I want, I want, I want. I want excitement and clothes and food.

A people with hopes betrayed as the politicians swaggered themselves into such a condition of pride and debauched arrogance; and long queues of their fellowmen on the unemployment lines like cattle’s waiting to enter the dip. The files not moving at all and enough time to hear the voices of their hunger, the hunger of their stomachs, that it seems as if darkness and bright light are moving like shifting water across their brains and they are swallowed by heavy nauseating blackness and blankness. Cold in the inside because of their hunger in spite of the hot sun in the outside. Many of them lonely and lost as a strayed ox.

The peoples spirits are chilled by the coldness and indifference of their elected Representatives at all levels of government, but they must find the resolve to be strong as a rock in the midst of a swift river which their politicians are. It is indeed strange that under the military the nation’s dreams were far less lofty and demanding than the ones we make now; nevertheless, so sweet and so strong, quite bewitched.

The heists and corrupt enrichments all around does not mix well with the nation’s dream, that slowly slowly the foolish sweetness of the dreaming leaves us, draining us of our great strength, resourcefulness, resilience, character and cleverness. Wrinkled faces and shabby dresses all around, while public servants bleed the nation dry, have bright and smart clothes, and so the small, unhappy child in us quietens, appeased and remain quiet and impassive.

The politicians are talking for the advancements of the peoples and the nation, some things this politicians do not mention, is the how and why they cornered the commonwealth and share amongst themselves. Their powerful voices have the peoples with faces full of longings. The people seem to growl with anger, to wit; sometimes they sigh and call out ‘shame!’ And these feelings are so widespread.

It is so upsetting! The peoples are somehow agitated, so it is only in fragments that the politicians words enter their mind, and there they form a strange and twisted idea that has led to indifference at the demagoguery in the cachés, trites and tricks and deceits and lies in the development of society, restructuring, privatisation.

Let me say it here that, men who profess to lead a people must not only be better than they, but also no more, be upright and full of integrity. There was a time in the development of society when religion, than politics was progressive and held all the goodness of mankind, but now that goodness and hope belongs to the movements of the people. If you know you know. A time will come soon when the load of fatalistic indifference lifts.

Nigeria, home to the highest number of world’s very poor people living below $1.90 a day with a dark grey cloud of misery on them. It is an extraordinary thing that this nation built to no recipe but according to the whims of colonialists is so beautiful that no one fails to fall in love with it at first sight, has been made most graceless and inconvenient in existence; and it offered no opportunities to its young men and women as its leaders carry – on like Napoleon Bonaparte’s, (the Cincinnati cobra) in his words at his coronation,
“Dieu me la donne (pouvoir), gare á qui la touche)”. God has given it (power) to me, let him beware who shall touch it. This goes without saying that, none of the nation’s boys and girls live here. They might have been born and bred for here, without prospect of anything better, and with no believe, but they did not live here; at least, in their minds.

It is woeful that the nation’s politicians have failed tremendously to see clearly what should be the proper path to growth, sufficiency, peace, accelerated growth, development and progress; because the leadership:
a. have not ordered or arrange their personal life.
b. do not have the comportment and carriage so that one may say: They are good men and women. Not sober and law abiding. Local thugs have even subscribed to the idea, as they now advertise their daredevilry in the presence of state governors and the state’s chief of police.
c.they are forever experts at infringing the laws. It is a terrible thing if a leader should be accused of pilfering. And this state of affairs will continue – but for how long.

The Locusts years left the nation in a quandary of all motions, no movement and, that, had made marching on the same spot in itself became an art. The nation had experienced, not unexpected though, confrontations, and in some instance a head-on clash between PMB in almost an anonymous fashion (as in spite of uncle Sam’s DT child-like pretensions and illusion in his allusion of “lifeless”, he’s trying in his own little way to right some perceived wrongs in the polity. And arguably, has supervised the best intention and attempt in a long time, given the resources available), and the leaders of opposition on one hand and on the other, a clash of interests and ultimate war between the APC and some of its disgruntled elements who lost out in the ‘power games’.

The PMB’s government willy nilly with all its inherent and extant powers guaranteed by the constitution couldn’t frighten and intimidate, hence, has been put on the spotlight – as there are serious differences; conflict of interest and a clash between two classes. And the colour of the wallpapers were clashing with the colour of the carpet, was the situation that ensued. A classic case of political tactlessness on the part of politicians with political ambitions. The situation became that of, when you’re in darkness, you see the light before you see the carrier of the light, right? The old saying, “First impressions are lasting impressions”, is true.

There’s been no marked difference in political parties management and tactics in our journey of self-rule, either in the first, second or the third republic’s. The politicians in the last 23 years or so of parliamentary democracy have showered the nation’s political landscape with subtle clues of debauchery, grand ineffectiveness and a large dose of insincerity amidst themselves and the nation at large, and have shown no pretences about it.

And whether the people realized it or not, whether they showed it in their reactions or not in their facial expressions, gestures, stance, energy, they have sized up the politicians motives and attitudes. That is to say the politicians speaking or performing, their appearances, attitudes, body language and approach make all the difference in the world.

The nation has to be in the know of what makes it this dysfunctional. It is because it is depleted; morally, ethically, and economically. The saying goes, “when your outgo exceeds your income, your upkeep becomes your downfall”. Robbing us of our robust uniqueness especially at these devastating times, when, our people have had to make endless lifestyle adjustments, yet, millions are hungry and pandemic diseases are gouging our nation.

In the few minutes it took you to go through this piece, almost ninety children would have died of preventable diseases. More than half of the nation’s population don’t have access to modern health facilities. As a result, multitude die each year from diarrhea, acute respiratory illness, malaria and measles. And many of those deaths could be prevented by one injection. To think that in all of these inadequate situations, to proffer solution, calling trumps credentials! And the litmus test isn’t experience or expertise, its availability. Nothing more, nothing less, nothing else.

The people have taking so much battering to a point in their apathy, may decide they don’t want to hear anything the politicians have to say again, rather than being struck by awe, love and by how much they’re drawn to the politicians. The political class and elites, so radiant, so genial, so kind, so pleasure bearing (that is all the politicians promised) that the people instinctively feel in their presence that they’ll do the nation good, and their coming into the nation’s political landscape was like bringing a shining lamp there.

But, alas! What do they have in return, nothing from a bunch of selfish, self-serving and greedy individuals. In short, their morbid appearances on the nation do not match the peoples expectations neither does it justified the resources so ‘wasted’. It may not be fair – but altogether it’s a fact. This politicians most of who pride themselves on “playing with a poker face”, and on their ability to not let the peoples know what they’re really thinking, often convey an unspoken message of detachment the moment they’re voted into office; and that makes meaningful connection with other people well-nigh impossible, but communicating all the same, all this while, the wrong things. These good actors up-to-date have found it difficult to fake reactions.

The pressures of the nation’s present difficulties have had many compatriots caught in a web of the most acceptable, yet energy – draining pastime: Worry. They have strapped on their well-worn backpack of anxiety, loaded down by worry. In spite of the fact that worry solves nothing, it created unrest and uneasiness on the peoples psyche. A people who were expecting politicians to deliver on their promises, what with the nation’s elegance of oil – the lifeblood of the modern world, the tide of the future that flows from beneath the seas, promising riches, and our country sits atop some of the greatest pools of oil ever known to man.

And the people feeling insecure and unappreciated are told that their only hope is for government to import oil for local consumption and payment of subsidies with brilliant narratives. If all of these shenanigans go unchecked may soon churn their waves of anxiety into a perfect storm of emotions. Add a little imagination and creativity, and their worst fears come to life in Technicolor brilliance. Anxiety has become a favorite pastime the people love to hate. And worse, they’ve passed it to the young ones. As their children see the worry on their faces and hear it from their lips, the “hmmm” and “shio shio”, they’re mentoring them in the art of anxiety.

Meanwhile, the politicians are either misreading or do not understand what is it the peoples desire. Do not have the temerity, temperance and the time to try and identify what’s really happening in the polity. The political class assumes
rightly or wrongly that the old North/South, Moslems/Christians relationship problems are destined to keep repeating themselves. They may think so, because deep inside, they know:
a. Nigerians are not communicating and growing.

b.Corruption especially of people with authority wilfully laying the foundation for building a cortex corrupt leisure industry in a society with young people whose morals have been corrupted, the corrupting influence so pervasive and infectious, thus portraying a nation corseted by weak perception and judgement.

The people particularly the teeming mass of young people, men and women don’t need a handout but a hand up and a government that would connect with them at the point of their need. The paradox here is when the people that are to be rescued genuinely turned same to aid and political bargaining, there is a bigger problem. The nation can’t help them until they are ready.

That calls for knowing the difference between the polarized entities of those who are looking for solutions, and those who may just be looking for sympathy, blinded by circumstances and emotion that they can’t see a way out; even though you’re clearly pointing them to it. The politicians must note that you never get a second chance to make a good first impressions. The look on the politicians face is gradually turning the people off before they opened their mouth. Attitude would win the people over every time.

What we say accounts for 7 percent of what people believe. How we say it accounts for 38 percent. What the people see accounts for 55 percent. Amazingly, more than 90 percent of the nonverbal cues we give off have nothing to do with what we actually say.

So, if any politicians in 2023 think communication on the soapbox is just about words, you’ll be missing the boat, and the chances are that you’ll have a hard time connecting with the people, who are trying hard to match your words with your actions, and deeds. Be wary, else, you’ll be seeing spider’s web as a wall and a wall as a spider’s web.

It’s no fun struggling to just get by on our Queens Mary. But the nation appreciate what it has to struggle for, plus living through such seasons builds into us a tenacity to keep moving toward better things to the place of “more than enough” from the place of “not enough”. The nation must identify with both in a situation where its politicians have not given of themselves so that the nation might grow,
accomplished its goals, and find wholeness and satisfaction.

Our politicians knack for underhand sharp practices is legendary. It does not make one better than the other or one political party better than the other. It is the people that must learn to adopt and adapt a few rules of engagement. Take time to try and identify what’s really happening. Politicians on the other hand, must:
i. learn to accept responsibility, whenever they take the part of least resistance and giving in to the temptation and urge to compromise integrity.
ii.It doesn’t take much time before the political leaders increasing responsibilities, administrative duties, and the subtle subterfuges of life begin to estrange them to the people they’re supposed to lead, but they just have to talk back to our feelings.
iii.The government has to start a campaign where the nation will start believing we can change. Beliefs control behaviour. The nation has lived through years of repeated failure, colonial, military and democracy inflicted injuries, it’s time to get honest, revive and receive the urge and desire and the power to do what’s right.

The people may compare the nation with the US, Brussels or UK. Compare the nation’s MM airport with the one in Schipol or Dubbels. But have you watched a baby learning to walk? They fall down a lot, but they don’t stay down. They keep on trying, and ultimately they succeed. How far do you think the US’d get if they gave up on their leaders, politicians and themselves. Failure in the past does not mean that you will never change. But focusing on past failures, however, does guarantee their repetition. It’s like driving a car while looking in the rearview mirror.

I call to remembrance the genuine loyalty and faith in the nation by its founding fathers, and I’m somewhat persuaded such faith and loyalty is in the veins of its current crop of leaders, let them do that which is right. We must break with the past. No more masking the stench of inadequacies with the sweet scent of perfume.

Let’s get down to brass tacks. For most of us and all of our leaders, the source, cause, and course of our foundational curses is the excessive love of Money. It’s our nest egg. It’s our paycheck. It’s our retirement fund. Just as Resource Control is quintessential to the calls for Restructuring. And the question is this, are you willing to give it all away? Crash the party and respond to the nation’s desperate needs.

Of course, the judgementalism that comes from insisting that the North, East, or West live by the standards of anyone in government has caused untold damage in the nation’s body politick, that soon the handshake across the Niger is fractured by a judgemental attitude. As 2023 approaches, the nation thus required leaders who must be prepared when defining moments come. Who must recognise the difference between the peoples want and what they truly need.

The nation whose subtlety is so strange, has on offer another opportunity in the next few months to disown its politicians unreasonable cheerfulness, and give a go-ahead government prepared to work with the people their hands and thumbprints.

As I put this to bed, the day grows dark. Through the window panes comes a flare of reddish light from the sunset which makes blotches and pools of dark red on the floor. I rose to take candles from the top of the mantlepiece where they lay hidden, stocked them in their grease on the broken flower vase, and lighted one. The reddish light vamoosed. Now the room is lit by the warm yellow glow of the candle, showing sheets of spider web across the window.

I slowly pinched out the candle. There is dark everywhere. Outside, the trees are swinging in a fast, cool wind, swishing tree branches back and forth, mounds of thick cloud move across the night sky, showing damp, weak stars between. It is a good night for sleeping.

Must catch up with my sleep!

#JimiBickersteth

Jimi Bickersteth is a writer and a blogger.

He can be reached on Twitter
@BickerstethJimi
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