THE PATRIOT

VIGILANTES

In my management course we learned different ways civil society can ensure government accountability in the developing world. Two such ways are:

1. Naming and shaming

2. Collaboration and working towards common goals

Of course by the nature of these two types, a civil person would have the propensity towards the more positive approach, however approach #2 isn’t always the most effective. Maybe a more appropriate way to say it is that those who use method 1 have most likely tried method 2 and it proved impotent. Recently I sat in a home with my Uncle and a new friend and we discussed this very issue of keeping Nigerian politicians accountable. He is what I call a controversial vigilante who borderlines blackmailing politicians via social media and pressuring them to do their jobs. His ways have been impacting, particularly on the state government level, and I walked away pondering a thought, which I want to discuss here.

Which approach will I, Frances, who believes in shaking up the status quo and developing people and systems, adopt as a lifestyle?! Do I just pick one or is it legal to alternate?

In a society like Nigeria where corruption came in with 7 of its strongest men, secured expansive land, then built a very large estate because it wants to put down roots for generations to come, the easier and perhaps more piercing solution is to vilify a government official who embezzles public funds. (insert here- The scene in ‘The Patriot’ where Mel Gibson’s character is referred to as ‘the ghost’ when he fights the Brits and after killing a soldier, he hacks him to pieces). Why? Because they killed his second son. Does the end justify the means? Does this approach fall under naming and shaming? I think it goes beyond. My friend’s initial approach falls under a third category- hacking out the wickedness in people. I really don’t mean to be vile, forgive me, it’s just that there are officials who exert their best efforts in managing a perplexing society and then there are those who are wicked and have consideration for only them. Both kinds of governance exist in every country and I don't know what it takes to root out evil in men and women who rule. The more stories we hear of people looting money, contracts and projects executed without proper management and accountability mechanisms, the more I think Nigeria is like a bow legged teenager and while others have exerted much energy and resources trying to straighten her walk, she lacks the will herself, though the strength is ever present. Soon. Very soon she will walk straight. This will happen after she undergoes intensive surgery and physical therapy for sometime. The surgeons must find a way to fix her while still upholding her beautiful complexity. The surgeons are Nigerians themselves.

Maybe what I’m saying here is that the dignity with which we respond to poor governance and poverty mindsets is the most crucial aspect to all this.

My individual response matters.

Our collective response matters.

If I hear one more person say, ‘that’s just Nigeria for you’, I might throw ‘em bows. I pray we continue to be discontent with status quo, yet apply wisdom in when and how to drive change. I love the Sound of Music and Sister Act for many reasons, one of which is two unconventional women stepping into worlds of strict order and discipline, and their presence alone mess up every existing system. Everyone including the 'sisters' mature in the process and after the damage is done, the result is a conglomeration of accepted imperfections. We need Maria and Sister Mary Clarence in our worlds, otherwise we're left to vain imagination that results in nothingness.

At the end of meeting my new friend, his brother said to me, ‘don’t deal sooo harshly with people, for a time will come when it’ll be your turn to govern’. Hard pill to swallow, yet a life saving tablet.

This land is such a beautiful enigma, and I’m grateful to have been born in this quagmire.

AND NOW FOR YOUR VIEWING PLEASURE..THINGS YOU FIND IN NAIJA (local term for Nigeria(n))