ANGRY and SMILING : Are Nigerians Really The Happiest People On Earth ? By Lai Labode

ANGRY and SMILING : Are Nigerians Really The Happiest People On Earth ? By Lai Labode



Most Nigerians vehemently reject any notion that suggests any close association of our characters with terrorism ,anger ,hate or conflicts . Nigerians are described in so many books , articles and papers as a peace loving people who don't ask for much .


I have delivered papers  in so many places using the same lines with a firm belief that we are not an angry nation . I have also listened to so many respected Nigerians do same with so much passion .

Fellow countrymen , I am sad to say that I now have doubts about some postulations of what our character is as a people . While many of us can be so kind and warm , the membrane between our warmness and unbelievable anger is so dangerously thin . 

The Nigerian society is much more dangerous than most Nigerians can fathom because most people have never really sit back to take an academic view of the humongous cases of JUNGLE JUSTICE that occurs around this country every day .      

The Nigerian society appears relatively modern and boasts of a rich cultural heritage that ordinarily abhors immorality , violence,conflicts or war mongering . Most cultural constituencies have great tales of how friendly their community is and how much love flows from their hearts to their brethren and other tribes or cultures . 

The facts don't however necessarily match up with the postulations of widespread kindness or patience of Nigerians towards one another . Let us take two cases that are still very fresh in our memories amongst hundreds that happen everyday . 

1. The ALUU Four (4)
2. The Alaba Market (Not Shopright) Lady Thief 


The brutal murder of the ALLU four (4) was received with very genuine shock by most Nigerians . The pictures sent chills down the spin of all of us especially parents . Many cried as the watched the video of beastly side of their fellow countrymen. The beastly spirit was so powerful,it arrested the reasoning of everyone on the scene . There was evil excitement in the air as the lives of fellow humans were gradually been taken in a most painful manner. Some screamed "dat one never die o" , everyone present waited for the hellish drama to peak with the expected burning of human flesh with used tyres .Expectedly the agents of darker side of the human word lit the fire of hell right here on earth ,they burnt the still struggling bodies of the young men like stray goats. They burnt the boys alive !

I heard of a pregnant lady who nearly lost her mind and her unborn baby after watching the shameful video . Social media went berserk with its traditional condemnation ,sympathy and calls for justice . Well meaning Nigerians spoke up against the dastardly acts of the People of ALLU . However , in the midst of the national agreement on the terrible acts and calls for justice , not many people have sat back to check why we couldn't find someone or a set of people who could have saved the lives of the young Nigerians .


Recently ,a young lady was caught in Alaba Market  after shoplifting  a blackberry touch from one of the stores . A group of young men gathered around her and stripped her naked . They beat her mercilessly , they opened her legs wide apart on the concrete floor . Many people brought out their mobile phones and took pictures of the shameful actions of their fellow countrymen , many were interested in videos of her private part . One fellow put a touchlight into the lady's vagina. What in the world you will say from the comfort of your office or home as you read this piece . 

There are several reasons that can be adduced  to the inability of someone to stop the killing of the young men or the dehumanization of the young lady ;  

1.The 'Not My Business Syndrome'
2. Danger of getting killed or 'turned on' by the mob
3. The Unconscious Acceptance Of Jungle Justice by society . 
4. Opportunity To Vent Pent Up Anger Caused by Poverty or Animosity 
5. The Perceived Weight Of Crime  
6. Loss of Confidence in Security Agencies
7. The Love of whatever makes news (Bad news). 
8.Genuine belief in the application of JUNGLE JUSTICE.

Looking at the eight (8)) possible reasons above , any ardent observer of the ways Nigerians engage themselves in discussions , arguments or debates may be able to conclude that there is very high tendency for 90 percent of us to have fallen into any of those categories . 

Have you noticed how much anger we exude when people don't agree with our opinions ? 

Have you noticed how much contempt we hold against people we perceive are better positioned than us ? 

Have noticed how much we judge others with a standard we ourselves don't come close to meeting ? 

Have you noticed how much we prefer to carry bad , false or hateful news about our friends and associates ? 

Have you noticed how much we transfer the anger of the failures in our lives to others ? 

Fellow countrymen , the above actions are the direct results of the ALLU KILLINGS and THE DEHUMANIZATION OF ALABA LADY THIEF and so many others that happen everyday but don't manage to get on social media . 

CONCLUSSION 

Nigerians may be much angrier that we have ever admitted . ANGRY and SMILLING !!!

WHAT CAN WE DO ? 

Fellow countrymen , there is indeed a lot we can do to begin to arrest the situation . I will proffer a few solutions in the hope that we get more from readers and find ways to begin some real fixing of the problems ;

1. Massive investment in Civic Education from primary education .

2.Independence and Strengthening of National Orientation Agency .(Separate it from the ministry of culture and tourism)

3.More Prominent Constitutional Role Of The Traditional Institutions 

4.Investment In Mass education by State and Local Governments 

5. Investment in scientific research of the behavioral traits and trends of Nigerians to help policy making . 

Fellow countrymen , let us remember that justice cannot be served in anger , hurry or without constituted authority . We cannot claim to live in a modern society and act so lowly . I implore us to take a second look at how we treat one another , how we interact with one another and see how we can make some improvement.

Remember God never intended for us to be so lowly so he designed us in his own image . 

Tell someone today 'DON'T BE SO ANGRY' .........

Lai Labode 
Author : 20 Laws of Democracy