The Price of Freedom
by
Freedom is one common word on the lips of many especially those in incarceration, bondage or slavery. It is one expression synonymous with the oppressed and it is at times so much sought after that bloodshed becomes inevitable in its logical or illogical pursuit. The likes of Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King and Winston Churchill became heroes and idols due to their constant desire for freedom. Even our own Gani Fawehinmi will go down in the historical artifacts as our greatest freedom fighter. Unfortunately, despite the clamor for its full entrenchment on our society, it has continuously eluded mankind for egocentric reasons.
Nigeria is one country in the world which can be embarrassingly referred to as an empire and not a nation. I stipulate this because nations are built while empires are forged. Or do I better say that Nigeria is a forged nation? I honestly think so because since our so-called independence, preceding events have so far manifested or depicted forgery and nothing else. We are currently the most corrupt country on earth and also one of the poorest even with our envious natural resources and human intelligential. We seem to have one of the largest ethnic combinations in the world(two hundred and fifty in number) while the level of intolerance amongst similar and diverse tribes or religion remains appalling.
Enter the dragon and here comes Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida and his twisted logic about Nigeria and Nigerians. This mercurial schemer gathers accolades from his good old friend of fifty years or more(according to Fela), Abdulsalam Abubakar, who shades the evil genius from the blames of the past. To him, the man did his best and should be praised not condemned. Erstwhile Muhammed Buhari and Shehu Shagari sit up north and in a sudden change of fate, both of them see everything wrong in the south being in control of political power. They seem to imply that one hand against any northerner is a hand against the entire north. Well, they have a point there whether we like it or not...
The recent spate of killings in Lagos and Ibadan leaves a lot to be bothered. There seems to be a pre-conceived and concocted antagonistic disposition towards every northerner in the south. Some may call it "Poetic Justice" while others will call it "The Fight for Freedom". Unfortunately, I term this to be the highest point of madness and illiteracy and I don't care whose ox is gored. In most cases, most of those who are killed in this unholy process are the innocuous and peace-loving populace while the originators of this present day confusion are left alone. What are we gradually turning into as a nation or association of many nations? Why is that while western countries are busy colonizing space we are still struggling with very basics of co-habitation? Why are our leaders of thought becoming elders of chaos and pandemonium?
I find it interesting when I read that President Olusegun Obasanjo prayed to GOD for wisdom. That to me was good riddance even though that should have done a bit more earlier. I also hope that the good lord will answer that humble prayer and grant him abundant wisdom and understanding in this Herculean task. Beyond this, the price of freedom is enormous and has to be well understood before it can be achieved. The South Africans paid dearly for this. The Palestinians are paying dearly for it. We as a country never really paid for this and that accounts for our present predicaments that appears to have no end in sight. Freedom is a gift but man has made it a struggle of a life time. It facilitates equity, equality and justice not ethnic and religious cleansing, statements of provocation and national fraud. May God give us the freedom that passeth all understanding because that is the perfect form of freedom. This is my silent prayer.
Uwem Inyang
London