Nelson A.Osuala [10 June 2016] 05:27AM
I consider it apposite to begin this piece of writing with the above caption. A critical look at this caption by Literary experts may suggest that its title is an Irony.
Others would say it it an exaggeration, Philosophers of language may call it a fallacy of inconclusive premise while some Logicians would say that it is only a Declarative statement.
A further look by Language contextualist's, would mean that, that 'it depends on the context in which I may be arguing'.
Whatever anyone may call it.. I am rather of the opinion that, we can only draw your conclusions after having read through to the last letter.
This article is a sequel to an earlier publication on this Blog..
SEE:
http://www.negroidhaven.org/2016/06/nigerians-react-over-late-gen-sani.html
As a follow up then, I had struggled to get its appropriate caption. I actually grappled with a few but after much efforts which fell to a futility, I decided the above title best fits.
Before you begin to rain curses..; kindly take a minute retrospect into what this country was some Twenty years ago.. juxtapose it with what it is now..
Aha! Now you understand as the answer is right there before your very eyes!
Two days ago,Wednesday, 8th of June 2016, made it exactly 18 years.. the day in which, Nigerians across the world “celebrated”the death of their own president.
I intentionally wrote that word CELEBRATED in inverted commas, premised upon the fact that though so many rejoiced over the death of who they would describe as a military Dictator, A Totalitarian, A god, a villian, an Antichrist etc. A few others hold different view.
Late Gen. Sani Abacha's death was quite phenomenal. The news about his death on that fateful day, the 8th of June 1998, triggered so many things across the nooks and crannies of our National Nigeria.
As a very young boy then, who was in his Junior Class Two, I wondered from my little mind how on earth, the death of someone would generate mass jubilation rather than Tears?!
Taking a retrospect to my childhood then.. I can only wonder if the Child I was who lived and experienced the then Nigeria, would be happy with the Nigeria that the Man I have gradually become is presently seeing?
I suppose the answer may not be far fetched.
As a way of comparison, the then Nigeria when the supposed 'Dictator' Gen.Sani Abacha was in power seems to have a Future than what it is Now.
I make bold to say that life was BETTER then than we have Now.
At least, then we did not have to be queuing for fuel, we didn't have to sleep with an open eye afraid of robbers.
There was no need to weep over a dwindling economy as we have today.
No such thing as devaluation of Naira, Corruption in high places.. with particular mention, in our own Aso Rock.
There was nothing like Boko Haram insurgency, Fulani Herdsmen who have become commandoes. No such thing as embittered militants of Niger delta, angry Biafran brothers, b budget deficit, inflation ecetra as the list is endless.
I am not ignorant of the fact that we had our own problems then but it was very minimal if not bareless.
Will I therefore be right to argue that Nigeria was better of then than now?
Will my argument that we need a Leader like Late Gen. Abacha be valid on the strength of logical coherence and entailment?
Will I be justified based on the foregoing to describe Late Gen. Sani Abacha as a HERO rather than a VILLIAN?.
I think you should better be the judge.. After all, we are all entitled to our own opinion.
Nelson A.Osuala is a Blogger & an Associate Editor in NegroidHaven.
