SATURDAY SATIRE: Nigerians and the fallacy of ‘moderate criticism’
Earlier in the week, something struck me about the demeanour of some supporters of the present government in Nigeria: they are largely intolerant of criticism, however harmless. And in a desperate bid to muddle the waters, they often deliberately lump genuine critics with others who hide under the banner of such critical engagement to spread hate. For the sake of posterity, it is important that we separate the chaff from the wheat.
On Thursday, frontline columnist Abimbola Adunni Adelakun wrote about the structure of opportunities in Nigeria and the ordeal of the Nigeria-based critic. Excellent intervention. Abimbola’s thesis spoke to the frustrating reality of speaking truth to power in a nation structured to rub you of independent means of survival.
Now, the essence of civility in public intervention is not open to debate, to be sure. We should all be civil because, contrary to what many feel, its absence actually reduces the potency of our message. Yet there are moments when one gets frustrated due to government’s undisguised, barefaced, legendary tomfoolery and one’s emotions get the better of one’s engagement.
Sadly, they have accomplices on and off the social media: folks who spew spineless “fencist” saccharine in the name of “objective criticism” even in absurd cases where the very fibre of our nation is being destroyed and a full understanding of civics should compel every genuine patriot to take a clear, unambiguous position.
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