Tuesday 14 January 2014

MISDIRECTION: THE MORE YOU LOOK, THE LESS YOU SEE.

Only this morning, I was embroiled in an argument about Nigeria's recent anti-same sex legislation. This is a very touchy topic especially between people of different opinions on the issue and as expected, the argument devolved from fact to personality attacks.

I have on numerous occasions given air to my opinion on the vexatious issue on my blogs, facebook and twitter accounts and I have gotten the vilest of biles for it. Still, it doesn't change a damn thing.

I steadfastly maintain that a society where homosexuality is viewed as normal and healthy is a dysfunctional one capable of endangering generations unborn. If we must condone homosexuality as the West tells us to, hell, let them condone polygamy, paedophilia and bestiality because the world has no right to tell a person who to love.

That being said, this is not an attempt in any way to commend the National Assembly for speedily passing the bill, or the Goodluck Jonathan administration for assenting to it. In fact, I am truly amazed at how quick it took for the bill to become law. Was it not only last year when the bill was first read in the Senate?

Remarkable!

The political class were obviously motivated for reasons best known to them. I don't know if this is as a result of the threat by the West some time last year to cease Foreign Aid to African countries that fail to embrace homosexuality as a way of life or whether there's another clandestine reason. I am only surprised that a dead-beat system can work this fast when the leaders are motivated.

In the mean time, I would like to ask what's up with the Petroleum Industry Bill...

No matter! What's done is done. However, I will commend our lawmakers and our president for their more awesome ability at performing magic tricks; notably, misdirection.

Nobody understands the psyche of the average Nigerian more than the Nigerian politician. The other group that comes close is our "men of God" but that is the topic of another day. Our politicians understands that the Nigerian masses are one big mob perpetually strung on  high doses of frenzy and guided by euphoria.

How does this Anti-Gay Law enhance development in Nigeria, or better her economy and the pathetic living standards of her people and more importantly, checkmate the awe-inspiring leviathan called corruption that bestrides our political space like a colossus? It doesn't!

I have seen the social media space lavish praises on Mr. President and the National Assembly for taking this indeed, bold step to criminalize same-sex relations. In the mass hysteria that has followed the US condemnation of this new law, we have failed to see this for what it really is; misdirection.

Only last year, the Minister for Aviation was in the news for purchasing two bullet-proof BMWs at outrageous prices in the wake of an airline disaster. More recently, it has come to light that our beloved minister did a "Toronto" on us. She hoodwinked this same Senate we praise now into believing she had a qualification she never had. In the midst of the outrage that followed, Stella Oduah, the Presidency and other "stakeholders" have maintained golden silence.

This is just one of many issues that has been swept under the carpet. The Nigerian masses have shown an insatiable hunger for sensationalism and instead of good roads, constant power, employment and better living conditions, prudence in governance and all that other good stuff, this is what we get; a new sensational topic to make us all forget the things that really matter.

I'm sure the Presidential Media team headed by the amiable Dr. Reuben Abati can now heave a sigh of relief as the attention of the mob has been momentarily diverted. Heck, maybe Stella Oduah can now take a ride in peace in her bullet-proof BMW and no one will notice...

Long live Nigeria!

Malcolm O. Ifi.

Malcolm tweets at @saymalcolm

5 comments:

  1. Hmmm. Everything is wrong with that Bill. We shouldn't condone homesexuality. Okay. But, I I think it's too extreme that we have criminalised it.

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  2. As a good friend of mine said, we might as well criminalise adultery, fornication and corruption but no, homosexuality is more important.

    Nigeria for you...

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  3. So true, we have short memory span and feed and glut on sensationalism. Where is Aluu 4, Faruk ,Otedola, Oduah, etc.

    When it seems the heat is much, they will give us another scandal to cover and divert our attention...

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  4. I think it is double standards to pass this bill when we are okay with a 13 years old girl can marry a senator and criminalise it as child abuse...

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