Between Chimamanda Adichie and Muhammedu Buhari

OFTEN times we are coerced by the trends to make a decision, a statement take an action, all together, an assertion of our thoughts and viewpoints.

On a lighter note, it has been our stand on homosexuality as a Nigerians living in Nigeria. However, for non-American blacks, who have climbed to the top in the ladder of success in America, homosexuality is a volatile topic. From the genealogical home front, those for whom you earn a living; parents and siblings, homosexuality is outright evil. But from the business success front, at the top of the ladder of success, those from whom you earn a living, homosexuality is just another type of sexuality that is open for anyone to experiment.

In politics, the post-Abacha era has seen a serious rise in campaign against former heads of state. From Ironsi-Gowon-Murtala-Obasanjo-Buhari-Babangida-Abacha and perhaps Abdusalam. Many, have aired their opinion and criticism in Nigerian dailies, internet and interviews where the editor can be blamed for misquoting the speaker (yes, Nigerians quickly swallow their words to suite the trends). And that is the Nigerian method of talking about volatile issues.

When Muhammedu Buhari started his presidential bid, and lost on three occasions, only few persons thought he was a potential president in an image slandering Nigerian media. Noting until ‘Jona-d-weakling’ was placed as the road block, did people begin to consider the possibility of a Buhari presidency. Particular in the list of pessimists is Chimamanda Adichie, as portrayed in her wok ‘Americanah.’

Sometimes it is easier to understand black Americans than the non-American blacks. A sentence in the wonderful prose work would run thus “… [And] General Buhari’s soldiers were flogging adults in the streets…” (pg. 288)

Chimamanda denies her readers a reason for the flogging, perhaps these sset of adults lacked discipline, maybe they jumped queue, littered the ground or did something against the law. If the glorified America (Aside racism) cannot tolerate such indiscipline, why should we tolerate it? Before you mention the law court, I should ask you many persons in Nigeria’s prisons are awaiting trial? In a country where judicial system is inept, instant punitive measures should be adopted.

My dear Chimamanda, if you had known Buhari would one day preside over the affairs of this country, as the messiah of the 21^st century, would you be so libelous? Or is it that you never believed that a man of unquestionable integrity with a modest means of livelihood can become president in a black country with black mentality?

Next time, “if you are going to write  [libel], you have to make it so lyrical and subtle that the reader who doesn’t read between the lines won’t even know its [libelous]. Or, just find a white writer.