OPINION: Benani Audacity: Killing The Mockingbird Of Democracy – Richard Odusanya.

This could explain the mindset of an average Nigerian, particularly the political class when it comes to killing the Mockingbirds of Democracy. To many of our public office holders such privileges becomes a means to grabbing power for self and cronies by all means possible. Hence the real essence of democracy “The innocent mockingbird” is no longer democracy by the people for the people.

I am always ready to learn something new so when I learned about Facing History’s workshop, “A New Approach to Teaching Mockingbird,” I was intrigued.

It turns out I found deeper connections to the novel than I had ever anticipated—some that took me all the way back to my childhood both in the southern and northern part of our beloved country Nigeria.

The mockingbird represents innocence because it causes no harm to others and therefore it is “a sin to kill a mockingbird”.

The innocence from the bird is parallel to democracy. The bird and democracy both did not cause harm to anyone. However, democracy has become a regular victim and constantly being punished for a crime he did not commit. Unarguably, the mockingbirds could also symbolize for a deeper meaning. Maybe back in time it was okay to kill a mockingbird even though it never harmed anyone because people did not view the bird of having any value.

This could explain the mindset of an average Nigerian, particularly the political class when it comes to killing the Mockingbirds of Democracy. To many of our public office holders such privileges becomes a means to grabbing power for self and cronies by all means possible. Hence the real essence of democracy “The innocent mockingbird” is no longer democracy by the people for the people.

It is instructive, to note, that, as a nation in distress, our democracy have witness several violations occasioned by flagrant abuse of privileges and process by many of our topmost public office holders – it exemplifies the mindset of an average Nigerian, conducts similar to the Aishatu Binani’s avoidable issues so rampant and we sure need to address such.

Interestingly, history beckons as the verdict of posterity is inevitable.Tragically, the mindset of over ninety percent of our citizens works and thinks the same way, like Binani. Aishatu Dahiru Ahmed also known as Aishatu Binani, a Nigerian politician serving as the senator for Adamawa Central since 2019.

Binani seeks to become the governor of Adamawa state on the platform of the ruling party APC. The APC’s candidate allegedly got entangled in an act that exposed the rottenness in our system.

Binani’s desperation stinks, although she was not alone in the said civilian “Coup d’etat” Binani’s avoidable misguided conducts and desperation throw up so many questions: is it a case of desperation interwoven with a mind dangerously in love with power? Or just a case of one of power mongering elements? Either way such incongruence can only sit well in the minds of a set of people in a debased and corrupted society who are unmindful of the consequences for generations to come.

What is more, the unwholesome behaviors of many government officials at different occasions, questioned the anti-corruption mantra of President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.): misappropriation of funds, abuse of privileges and office, malpractices involving the high and mighty mismanagement of resources and squandering of riches including the Adamawa debacle a show of shame that is avoidable.

The ultimate question we need to ask ourselves is whether we believe we are worthy enough as a people and as a nation, to have and to manage a democracy, or if we feel too worthless to have one. One-track-minded philistinism leaves us all wretched, one way or another.

Paradoxically, Tinubu’s Presidency is faced with the hard choice: continuity or change? In my mind complete change is the way to go, so that we can jointly arrive at destination the promised land – a new dawn and expectedly the new Nigeria that most people are looking forward to.

Furthermore, change from our old ways to a more acceptable standard and also despondency to vibrancy in the spirit minds of our citizens particularly the restive youths is the best way to go. Therefore, there is an urgent need for us as a nation destined for greatness, to consider the issue of “Mind Restructuring” an advocacy that requires collaboration with a particular government agency.

It is worthy of note that several articles and books have been writing about the subject.It is against this backdrop that, I like to conclude this contribution on leadership regurgitation: COMPASSIONATE leaders are processed & made through SERVICE while the APATHETIC ones are birthed from being SERVED! Finally, notwithstanding the sad realities, the President elect demonstrated the much expected role of a statesman and clearly disowned and completely distanced himself from all the parties involved with a profound statement:

“However, I note the matter of Adamawa Supplementary Governorship Election and I urge police authorities to fully investigate all that transpired in the election given the attendant controversy. In every democratic contest there has to be one winner.

I call on those aggrieved to pursue legitimate means of addressing their grievances.”- Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu President-elect, Federal Republic of Nigeria April 19, 2023.Finally, this contribution will like to recommend a couple of ways as part of our official code-of-conduct, so that, our compatriots are not punished for a crime it did not commit and as people we do not continue with our attitude and conducts that kills

the mockingbirds of democracy:

1. Do-or-die Politics with the intention of leveraging on political positions for personal aggrandizement and benefits of a few hangers-on must be completely eradicated.

2. The mind-sets of an average Nigerian needs serious reorientation – Mind Restructuring advocacy to the rescue.

3. We need to properly interrogate and interrogate the process that recommend, certified and confirmed such sensitive office holders as exemplifies by the conducts of the rogue ‘INEC REC’ aided by top security officers including the police commissioner of Adamawa state, the state DSS director and others who aided in the gross misconduct of Hudu.

4. Public office holders must be seen to be above board not easily influenced by pecuniary benefits and ultimately patriotism should be the driving force.