If there is anything as a season of serial abuse across spectrum, it will be a period that elicits grave uncertainty such as the time we currently live in. Investment abhors uncertainty, love also gets frustrated under same and citizen unrest, groundswell of dissent cum chaos is inevitable should the masses be exposed to the myriads of little confessions on classified matters of state.

When in love or when consumed by loyalty towards another, regardless of how it was induced, the frontal cortex vital for judgement shuts down in the brain. This makes one more likely to do the unthinkable, invest prodigiously or make life decisions on the fly without deep thoughts. Due to this shut down, the area of the brain that controls fear and negative emotions shuts down as well granting one the freedom to take Risks.

This may answer the age-long question of why fools fall in love or why the ignorant form the largest core of voters in any given Democracy despite technological advancement and the level of civilization. In both cases decisions are rarely logical neither does it often respond to deep cogitation but sentimentality, irrationality and wanton stupidity. The brain at this state of euphoria produces more dopamine causing them to seek out more rewards and pleasures.


“It is the nature of the wise to resist pleasures, but the foolish to be slave to them.” — Epictetus
We have since normalized the cycle of abuse by politicians as tethered to their empty promises. The same way men and women in emotionally abusive relationship hope that their abusive partners will suddenly change for the better until they lose their lives in one of the unfortunate episodes. The feelings and opinions of citizens are rarely validated, and the moment you attempt to hold leaders accountable, you are deemed an opposition and a critic of government, if not an enemy of the state.


The issue of second term has become a right of rulers regardless of how inadequate or unsatisfactory they perform. Just like in most abusive relationships, we often forget that giving someone a second chance is like giving them an extra munition for their Gun because they missed us the first time. We need not be convinced that we are already walking on eggshells, especially now that we need approval to express our grievances via freedom of association and peaceful protests.
Patriotic citizens have now been relegated to mere heathens just because they don’t endorse inanities or normalize absurdities.

The consequences of a seeming inconsequential decision, has now plunged us all into a situation where a highly detailed, realistic setting is invaded by something too strange to believe (Magical Realism). We now live in the days where dilettantes rule, both laws and trust are mangled, yet the people living under the chemical imbalance devoid of rational thinking can not declare war on atrophy.
Power is in the hands of dishonest characters, who feed on abuse and they will rather speak hedonistically that their critics want them out of power because they are guilty of corruption, instead of being accountable and transparent.

What is obvious amongst many other vices are the blithe disregard for the rule of law, spate of deaths across the country (by the rogue police, Boko Haram and Fulani Militia/Herdsmen), economic plunge due to their ludicrous incompetence, unemployment, dearth of security, moribund institutions, nepotism, cronyism, acute corruption, state sponsored heists and hefty lies that proliferate political opportunism.

I’m concerned over their inability to understand the scope of their responsibilities and the impact of their actions, much less the policies that they promulgate. This is very difficult to process. Even a post civil war LovePeddler won’t take our current situation as a compensation. It is as though the ruling class have resolved to make it a mission in life to not only destroy all the gains of democracy but to obliterate all hope and happiness that the masses manage to cling to.
Loyalty is a consequence of leadership and leadership is the touchstone of Competence. One would wonder why ‘we the people’ can at this critical point, where the future of our children is threatened, afford a cerebral cortex shut down.

When will patriotic citizens with a reputation for pragmatism void of indentured servitude rise up to the call of Nigeria? When will true leaders communicate the age-long fact that loyalty can’t be purchased? When will we demonstrate to all and sundry unequivocally that to earn loyalty, you have to offer yours in return?
Nigeria is not the summation of its 36 states but an idea. Government exist as a means. It allows the people to love, live, create, innovate, collaborate and thrive. Without the freedom and security of people there is no point for Government to exist.

In times of crisis we must not succumb to cynicism and mistrust. Instead we must maintain faith while embracing reason and truth not speculation and rumor. We can only attain this through transparency. I feel the pulse on the street. I live on the street and hear the yearnings of the people. I know there is confusion and fear. I know most of us don’t feel safe to leave our homes. The prophetic caution of our founding fathers are instructive even in the creed of our National Anthem.

We are at a crossroad and we must not fail or allow our Nation fall. Our most important decision in the history of our democracy is between unity in the pursuit of truth and reason or splinter because of conjecture and suspicion. I trust we will make the right and informed decision. I believe the necessary synergy will be triggered and the needed coalition will be facilitated. Our collaboration at such a time as this signifies a profound train of thought, the alchemist’s fire that transforms fear and tragedy into levity and livelihood.
It is either we make this happen or be relegated to the pages of doctored history.
End of Celestial Observation
First Published in Tribune Online.

https://medium.com/@segalink/the-rise-of-the-citizens-and-the-revelation-of-the-heathens-segalink-435f03481348

Okay