PREDATORS AND THEIR PREYS: THE TALE OF A PEOPLE WITH COMMON ENEMIES
By: Olanrewaju Ojuoluwa
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There are two sides of the coin; elite or commoner. Rich or poor. Strong or weak. Wise or foolish. Good or bad. Nice or wicked. Moral or immoral. Sad or happy. Useful or useless. Bravery or cowardice. Careful or careless. In life, there are no neutrals, one must belong to a side. Simply put, one is either a prey or a predator. And, speaking of predators, they are always few but conscious and coordinated as against multitudes of preys who are forever hapless, lackadaisical and vulnerable.
The black race has been involved in slavery since time immemorial. Africa long before the invasion of white men hundreds of years ago was renowned for the brutal treatments of slaves by their lords, ('Africans being monkeys living in trees' myth notwithstanding). They have always practiced oligarchy and monarchy systems of government, where like every other community in existence during the dark age had their elites live lives of decadence and, unquestionable even when they exhibit the most absurd and inhumane behaviours.
Permit me to say this, the slave merchants thrived in their slave trades and merchandise in Africa thanks to the help of the elites who are ever greedy and, never had value for the their own people. Kings and chiefs were so greedy to the point that they gave their harlots, maidens, mistresses, concubines (and sometimes family members and even wives) in exchange for 'gifts' of scraps as ridiculous as mirrors. Hence, the black race has always cherished foreign things above their own.
Fast forward to the 19th and 20th centuries during colonial eras which led to the conquering of many indigenous kingdoms and inculcation of new systems of government - monarchy rendered powerless but oligarchy retained because it always favours the elites, even the European elites who were then in the helms of affairs.
And as expected of a besieged community, Africa adapted; elites and commoners alike. The Europeans have come with two sides of the coin; liberation and slavery, education and ignorance, prosperity and poverty, development and retrogression, blessing and curse, religion and damnation, giving and looting. Empowerment and vulnerability. In liberation, they preached equality, that, all animals are equal even though some are more equal than others, and in empowerment, they preached 'education for all'.
Middle of the 20th century witnessed the 'independence' of most African countries under European colonies. And gradually, the real African barbarism resurfaced. Why not? after all, we are now free! Free of the values we have learnt and free to run our own government ourselves again without interferences from anyone, not even the Europeans. However, we would practice Democracy their system of government which we have been taught how to run.
Democracy, a government of the people, for the people and by the people was supposed to be the perfect system of government for us, but for the kind of people we are. Because, for anything (at all) of a pathetic people, for a lackadaisical people and by a barbaric people must need more than a miracle to function properly.
Little wonder, sentiment and selfishness which are both features of a mediocre society led to the 1966 Coupd'etat in Nigeria which was the first of many to later happen. Between 1960 and 1999, Nigeria had had to switch systems of government in quest of the one that best suits us as a people. The problem however has never been the systems of government being practiced, rather, it has been about the people practicing them because the focal point in Democracy is the people.
In 1999, we settled for democracy once again after many failed attempts. The only problem with that again is the people involved. For, "we are a barbaric and pathetic people with lackadaisical attitudes at the same time", Democracy which is suppose to be a blessing has turned a curse - "DEMONSTRATION OF CRAZINESS". Isn't it true that a people get leaders they deserve?
Yes, there could be vulnerable people who are marginalized, neglected, frustrated, beaten, battered, cheated, afflicted and perhaps strapped but, there are no innocents. Yes, the masses may be suffering as a result of the actions and inactions of their leaders whom they elect to represent them, yet, they too are not innocent. We practice Democracy, which is a government of the people, for the people and by the people. Hence, our democracy is a reflection of whom we are as a people.
Who are the Predators and, who are the Preys? To answer this question, we must first highlight the major features of each. Predators are animals that kill (or feed on) others. They are few compared to their preys but, they are conscious and coordinated. They diligently work on plans which they often execute perfectly. Preys on the other hand, though always plenteous are careless and lackadaisical in nature. They live life as it is presented to them, not as they want it. They accept unpleasant situations and call it FATE.
The obvious contrasting features of these two categories explain why one THRIVES and the other STRIVES. Just like in ages past, the elites have mastered the art of taming the commoners such that they should remain at arms length and very much controllable. They have made a project the people's vulnerability and built a structure that will forever sustain them in power because they are diligent at what they do and they know that their preys are always careless and their lackadaisical attitudes will never make them take responsibility for their lives.
One may have to wonder why voting out bad leaders who keep afflicting them and, enthroning one of their own who would share their pain (a suppose most simple task ever), which would cheaply take the commoners out of afflictions and sufferings always seems an upheaval task and perhaps impossible! It is simply because, they are mere preys which means that, they are not expected to take responsibilities for their lives.
Speaking of voting out bad leaders and enthroning one of their own, there are still some who would rather boycott the electioneering process than get involved in it. They claim their distrust in almost everything. They complain of the government, complain of the bad leadership, complain of their PLIGHTS but would not take actions to effect a change of their situations. Only if being uninvolved changes their side of the coin.
Preys will be preys and predators will be predators until the parties involved take responsibilities and change the status quo. However, being predator doesn't connotes being evil and being prey doesn't connotes being good and, vise versa. It is time to choose which side of the coin you would be.
I am Olanrewaju Ojuoluwa, a battle axe and weapon of war. I am a part of a generation of unrepentant haters of evil who do not just fold arms and complain, but take actions to make the difference. I may not know much, but I know that in a very short while, Nigeria and Africa shall be fixed for good!