Nigerians, we need to do better…
I happened to be in the midst of some kids whom I would refer to as being a part of the ‘elite’ a few days ago, and I couldn’t help but overhear the conversation these 7 year olds were having. I was within earshot and even though I didn’t ask, I could easily tell that they had to be between the ages of 7 and 8. They were expressing their hatred for the END SARS protesters who went about looting people’s properties and breaking into homes that didn’t belong to them.
It baffled me to hear the passion with which these little kids spoke about these protesters. One of them even went ahead to express strong hatred for them. It took everything in me not to interfere initially. After what seemed like forever, and a heated argument which ensued between two of the kids, I had to interrupt.
There was more to it than met the eye because if these kids could muster enough courage to speak so passionately about the recent happenings, then they should be speaking from an unbiased point of view. I could tell from everything I overheard them saying, that they must have been given this inappropriate orientation from home.
We need to do better…
I tried my best to make them undertand, as much as their young, innocent minds could take anyway, the real picture. These protesters came out in numbers to demand for their rights. They came in peace, held prayer walks, protested peacefully, without causing any form of destruction to properties or even doing something as harmless as littering the streets. They were that peaceful!
Then came the hoodlums, who wormed their way into the group of peaceful protesters. This was when what started out as a peaceful protest turned into something else. We all know how everything evolved from there. From the palliatives that were hoarded, to the bloody massacre, (God Bless The Souls Of All The Fallen Patriots, Amen), stampede and so on.
It started out peacefully and would have continued that way, so it’s not nice that our kids would be told this story in a half-baked or false manner. If they need to know about it, then they should be told the absolute truth, maybe leaving out the sordid details of all that happened because of their ages of course. But telling them a downright lie should not be an option at all.
We need to do better and we can! It starts with us. Raising the future generation on a bed of lies is not the way to go. See where all the previous lies have landed us and we are not the better for it. So is this the kind of life we want for our kids? I wonder…
Instead of spoon feeding them with all of the wrong notions, now more than ever, we can think of ways to keep making a positive change. If protest is no longer a possibility, there’s still something we can do. From praying, keeping people informed with what’s happening in your vicinity through your social media pages if you have a way with words, to staying hopeful and optimistic.
It will mean the whole world to our kids if they knew that we were a part of a peaceful objection, in order to protect our lives and their future by putting an end to injustice.
Together, we can change the status quo!
Together, we can do better!
Together, we can achieve a lot more!
Together, we will conquer!
