Memo to a coward... and his ilk

by

Soboyejo A.S.A. Awosika-Coker, U.S.A. 

I sat in my office on Thursday, Jan. 4th, in the year of our lord, 2001. On this fateful but rather interesting day, sometime towards the evening, I proceeded to check my in-box (for those who are technically challenged, my e-mail). Among the slue of messages there, was a rather intriguing but eye-opening (though not surprising considering the source) message from a certain gentleman of supposed northern Nigerian extraction (whatever the heck that is)!

This individual’s act of cowardice and smallness was evident in the tone and character of his message. What I however then came to find out was that this individual (Ismail Iro) is actually a primary sponsor of a “Nigerian” media outlet dedicated to the propagation of incendiary propaganda as well as the promotion of infantile and gutter journalism, via the likes of that ardent Abacha crony and peripheral lunatic called Wada Nas.

I had written an article (that was published in their particular media outlet among others) titled: The Psychology of Power: the Nigerian Experiment This individual was apparently responding to that particular article, but his response typified the cowardice as well as cognitive and intellectual deficiencies that a lot of people had always told me, was representative of this organism and his kind. What I will say without a shadow of a doubt though is this… he definitely barked up the wrong tree!

In his rather incontinent show of emotion and gross intellectual bereavement, he proposed his own cockeyed “theory” of the Nigerian political climate by claiming to be a veritable source of information. What was however ironic was that his attempt at assigning a semblance of “legitimacy” and “importance” to his pathetic self was at best macabre and laced with jaundiced paranoia!

At one point in his e-mail response to the above mentioned article, he referred to Obasanjo as a ‘northern Yoruba man’ saying, “speak to him, his Hausa is slightly better than mine and I am a northerner”, boy I wouldn’t have guessed! This individual also stated further in an apparent display of typical northern pomposity, "it is the southeast we are worried about, we can handle you Yorubas". Really! I am at a loss as to whether he would be saying the same thing if the likes of Benjamin Adekunle and other great Yoruba and Middle-Belt warriors had stood aside, and let the Biafran Army kick the living daylights out of their conceited, suya peddling and cattle-rearing behinds.

Sir, do you think the Yoruba really give a hoot about the likes of Obasanjo and other southern sympathizers and cohorts (be they of Yoruba or other southern origins) that have, and continue to line up with their hands outstretched and pockets turned inside out…in anticipation (or so they think) of another Babangida mal-administration? Well, to you and your ‘comrades in myopia’, you have absolutely no idea from what ocean the impending tidal wave shall arise!

I was more than tempted to include the actual message from this individual in this article, but then I thought to myself, when you have a weapon, you use it strategically and decisively. To be so daft as to launch such a blatantly biased and unprogressive attack through an individuals private “domain” while claiming to be a proponent of credible, fair and balanced information through your media outlet, further lays credence to the assertions of most well-meaning Nigerians that Nigeria, may have died a long time ago. You should be ashamed of yourself and you have by your actions done yourself and your people a great disservice. You have effectively succeeded in your attempt to alienate well-meaning and moderate Yorubas and other southerners alike who still harboured some hope for our nation!

I am someone who has always prided myself on being pragmatic (but not naïve). It has however become apparent, going by recent events and occurrences that a certain segment of the Nigerian population will only learn… when they are taught a severe lesson! Their ignorant arrogance and misguided superiority complex has been and will continue to be their bane. Rather than exhibit some humility and reciprocate the respect and cordiality extended to them over the years by other groups, their impetuous pomposity and overstated numerical and military prowess will inevitably, without doubt lead to their eventual downfall… and they would at that time have no one to blame, but themselves!

The end is indeed near.