Revisiting Savagery As National Pastime
femi Akintunde-Johnson
This month, three years ago, this column debuted on these prestigious pages with a quaint allegory of how our people had reshaped the dynamics of social communication. I was worried then, and was sufficiently alarmed, to seize the privilege of sharing perspectives on issues and personalities, to showcase examples of our negative idiosyncrasies. Many articles have since then been written, denouncing the increasing deterioration of common etiquettes in public discourse. In the last three years since my initial lamentations, we have all seen efforts to forcefully moderate the vitriol and anger that attend our social interjections, veiled as opinions and commentaries, without much success – let’s admit it. We have become more vile…more hateful…more vicious in venting our frustrations and objections.
To commemorate the journey so far, we have chosen to go back to the very first step…and recast. Has anything really changed? Have we gotten worse, or have we just fallen into the trap of warped humility? Shall we simply fold our hands and watch the nation slide to the abyss – where the harshest interlopers hold sway, and wise people take refuge in studious silence?
We do not have any idea where this introspection is leading us, or even if it serves any useful purpose – in keeping with the current disruptive swagger. Whatever suits your fancy…we are still in a free world… supposedly. So, let’s go:
“Here is a window to a typical day on WhatsApp closed group:
“Ol’boy: So, Afenifere too have fallen in love with Atiku? They said they’re ready to join forces with Atiku so far Buhari can be removed, for restructuring to come to Nigeria!
Skola: Aha! That means Pa Adesanya and cohorts have been Atikulated! (Several grinning Emojis follow)
Biggie: @Skola, are you well? Abi you just woke up in that Isheri brothel again? Why do you lazy youths have no respect for elders? Do you know that Pa Adebanjo is over 90 years?
Skola: Mr. Respect, don’t insult me o! So, because the man is 90, I should not breathe again, abi? Don’t I have a right to disagree with him, or anybody sef?
Biggie: You have a right to be abusing someone probably older than your grandpa! Kontinue! This table you’re shaking (on-the-run emojis).
But if they yab your god, Bubu, you’ll be foaming in the mouth, crying that he should be respected as an elder and c-in-c… and him never 80 o, officially!
S.H.O.T.S: But why should Baba Adesanya say anybody but Buhari! Because of restructuring? No be so dem trick them for 2014…with anything but GEJ.
Skola: No mind the Baba joor. Where and when did we even sit down to appoint them as Yoruba leaders – I didn’t remember voting anybody! So, nobody should use me to make money o.
Biggie: When they say some people may die young, it is not a curse o pop. It is self-inflicted! So, these very old activists that have been in the forefront of struggles for egalitarian society…since even before Independence…are making all the sacrifices for monetary motives? That’s a great error in today’s thinking, and to use yourself as a yardstick of morality is a grave disaster to the future of this country.
Gaga-B: Bros, leave matter. When you say someone is Atikulated, it doesn’t necessarily mean he’s compromised. It may be the fellow is now a supporter or believer of Atiku. You can be Atikulant, Atikulized, Atikurated, or even be on Atikudol – as in Tramadol. (Several hysterical emojis follow).
Ol’boy: But we all know that Atiku is associated with ceaseless spending for political leveraging… Why did you think he cried when his associates supposedly bought his presidential form. He was shocked they could even return 12m naira after his several years of donations!
Biggie: Jokes apart, it is rather sad that young minds who should have retired these grand old men by being in the forefront of the struggles for progressive ideals, are the same ones shamelessly mocking the old soldiers, and questioning their reputations! Mtshewwww….”
Several posts of irreverent and disruptive viral links follow…and deluge of swear words, profanity, abuses and reprimands go on and on… soiling the day of delicate minds, and spiking the adrenaline of inveterate on-line warriors.
Of course, the language and expletives have been moderated, and lexical errors spruced up – but the above “dialogue” is a common spectacle in many of today’s platforms on social media (particularly Whatsapp and Telegram). We are all familiar with the desperation of the moment – the seeming frustrations of the “working class” engulfed in daily broiling battles to provide for his or her family, keep children in schools (here or there), meet sundry obligations…and still expect public authorities to fulfill the minimum requirements of their extant mandates.
Frankly, the social fabric of the Nigerian society has been shredded in several portions. We can devote weeks to pointing fingers and apportioning blames, yet we’ll be no where to closure, months after.
Arguments are not activated because people want some sort of resolution or clarity. No, we argue in a high and violent tone today to ventilate our frustrations, impotence, and disillusionment. On the other side of the divide, we repudiate negative depositions against our preferred personality – not because we want to sway opponents or convince doubters. It appears their mandate is to decimate any contrary opinions (often couched in disparaging, condescending or derisive cotton wool of hate and hubris).
Even when our leaders fail us, and the planks of our personal and corporate economies wobble on account of the omission or commission of political actors, Nigerians must return to civility and coherence in social intercourse. Extremism in any form is a self-destructive toga that we must strive to reject. Clearly, we can’t be a great nation when most of us are fairly great in malicious messaging, inglorious petty-swapping and such kill-or-be-killed verbal and textual attrition.”
By the way, what do they call those who make the same moves, time and time again, and expect a different result – beyond the usual consequence?
