Democracy in the trenches

Fragile or not, our liberty is hard earned.

We have come a long way

It is break time and I'm sitting at my desk surfing the net. Then a senior colleague comes to me to inform me that I am wanted by the boss. Next, I am in front of the boss and he's asking me to help develop a copy for his son who is campaigning for the prestigious post of the Head Boy. I would have been shocked but I am kind of getting used to the idea. The last time something like this happened, I was there as an observer. The discussion was between another senior colleague and the HR Manager. The senior colleague who happens to be a sit-mate had been commissioned to develop a copy for the HR Manager's daughter who was equally gunning for a prefect position. These two moments did stir up some form of nostalgia in me. The idea of pupils choosing their prefects was a luxury in my own time. Times have indeed changed. 

When the General kicked the bucket

The day the military dictator; Sani Abacha kicked the bucket, there was a huge gig in my school. On that fateful day, the jubilation was beyond your typical shindig. As sinister as it may sound (celebrating the death of a fellow human being without any sense of loss), I was part of that elaborate celebration. The staff room where the DSTV cable was became a mad-house as everyone wanted to catch a glimpse of the breaking news. The tyrant had bowed from the hallway of power. Those days leave such a bad taste in the mouth. Ours was a story that found solace in the Israeli exodus legend. Not much was known about the General thanks to press censorship and martial laws but one thing was clear nationwide. Nigerians have never been one on any matter like this one. Abacha must go! Went he did to the world beyond. Legend has it that his last meal were Apples in the hands of some exotic breed of strange women.

The children are happy. Let us keep it that way

I reckon that as I type these words, the printer community of Ogba, Lagos is agog with briefs and copies ready to be rolled out. I assure you from my gathering that the politicians responsible for this traffic of work are not located in the top echelon of our society. These politicians don't have or drive bullet proof cars (if they do, its not theirs. Not yet). Our professing politicians are scholars behind the walls of our educational institutions who have many things to thank God for. It is my sincere hope and admonition that we will not rupture the walls of our fragile peace.


Image Credit: Google Image