OPINION: Weep Not, Child

By John Mayaki / posted December 20, 2024

Chinua Achebe, one of Africa’s foremost literary icons, once wrote, “He who brings home ant-infested firewood should not complain when lizards come visiting.” This Igbo proverb captures the essence of cause and effect, that is, actions, especially unjust ones, have inevitable consequences and this timeless wisdom is a now a reality that is currently unfolding in our own Edo state.

We can recall that in the administration of former Governor Godwin Obaseki, governance often skirted the boundaries of legality, trampling on democratic principles in pursuit of political dominance. And funny enough, those who applauded these actions as shrewd maneuvers failed to grasp Achebe’s warning: when you create conditions ripe for chaos and injustice, you cannot escape the consequences. Today, the very instruments of suppression and illegality are being wielded against them, and their cries of injustice ring hollow.

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Achebe’s works, particularly in this context, A Man of the People, serve as both cautionary advice and a reflection of our political reality.

In that novel, the charismatic yet corrupt leader Chief Nanga manipulates power to enrich himself and suppress dissent, believing his actions to be above reproach. But Achebe reminds us that power, when untempered by morality, is a ticking time bomb. By the end of the novel, Nanga and his allies are overthrown by the very forces they underestimated, leaving chaos in their wake.

The parallels to our political reality today are quite striking. Obaseki’s administration, marked by selective adherence to the rule of law, mirrored Chief Nanga’s hubris. From rigging local government elections to denying House of Assembly members their constitutional rights, the former governor manifested a picture of how power, unchecked by moral restraint, can corrode the pillars of democracy.

And, as Achebe’s narratives often foretell, those who enable or benefit from such corruption are never immune to its eventual backlash and for me, this is including their praise singers and thos who benefited from it.

And so, Achebe regretted the erosion of morality in leadership, describing the Nigerian crisis as fundamentally one of leadership failure. He argued that leaders, when guided by personal ambition rather than the common good, lay the groundwork for systemic dysfunction. This moral void allows injustice to flourish, as seen in our own very dear State.

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Obaseki’s decision to disregard a court order in demolishing Tony Adun’s property was a stark example of power’s misuse. It sent a chilling message: the judiciary could be ignored when it stood in the way of political vendettas. Yet, as Achebe warned, such impunity only sows the seeds of future instability.

Now, the Appeal Court’s recent ruling in Kabaka’s favor is not just a legal triumph but a direct restoration of the rule of law, telling us that no leader, however powerful, can permanently evade justice.

Again, Achebe’s insights are a call to action for both leaders and their supporters. That this, they must understand that power is a trust, not a weapon. When they abandon moral principles in favor of political expediency, they betray the very foundation of democracy. Supporters, too, must hold leaders accountable rather than cheer for short-term gains. To those who clapped for Obaseki’s disregard for the law, Achebe’s words are a chilling reminder: the lizards you welcomed yesterday will visit your home tomorrow. Just as those hailing today’s illegalities.

Most worrisome happening in our state and even of a larger issue within our country’s democracy is the normalisation of injustice. “You do me, I do you, God no dey vex”.

This is even so because, too often, partisan loyalty blinds citizens to the long-term repercussions of condoning illegality. Yet, as Achebe so often stressed, injustice is a two-edged sword. The same powers used to suppress opponents today can and will be used against allies tomorrow.

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And so, the parable of weep not, child teaches us that history is not kind to those who ignore its lessons. In Edo State, the moral arc of justice is bending, but not without irony. The probe of Obaseki, the suspension of his loyal council chairmen and the non-inauguration of duly elected House of Assembly members are all stark reminders of power’s transience. And as fate would have it, one of the members who was denied inauguration has secure double appointments: first as a member of the State Internal Revenue Service and secondly, as the Board Chairman of Owena River Basin. He’s is Hon. Ohio Ezomo.

Therefore, this is to our leaders, no matter how intoxicating power may seem, it is fleeting. To today’s cheerleaders of injustice, Achebe would warn: be careful what you celebrate. The seeds of impunity you sow today will one day grow into the fruits of your own oppression.

The message therefore is that governance without morality is doomed to collapse under its own weight. For those lamenting the current state of affairs in Edo, weep not, child. The injustice you face today is the echo of the one you ignored yesterday.

Let this be a lesson to all: democracy can only thrive when guided by the rule of law and a commitment to justice. Anything less will inevitably crumble, leaving its perpetrators and beneficiaries to face the consequences.

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Mayaki, a former Chief Press Secretary to the Edo State Governor, is highly sought-after writer, journalist and public communication consultant.