This is Not FUNNY!

By Samod Biobaku

Sixthsense34@yahoo.com

I have noticed with pain in my heart and fear on the horizon, a disturbing trend among Nigerians especially the youths – They tend to handle issues with levity; even matters that have grave and calamitous consequences for the nation as a whole.

On several occasions, when matters that require deep thinking and reflection crop up, many conveniently opt for the comical way out – handling such matters as if it were a movie script that could be edited and altered whenever the producer deems it fit.

It is precise references that I discovered that many tend to disregard the inherent dangers of most serious matters until it has a direct effect on them or their loved ones.

We must understand the place of comic relief apart from constructive discussions and actions.

Comic relief originally belonged to comedians, jesters and cartoonist but today, millions of Nigerians can no longer draw a line between an issue that should be joked with and one that should be taken seriously.

Perhaps, this was what prompted a concerned Nigerian to write the short but precise piece below.

FUEL SUBSIDY: Matters Arising

When 26 yr-old Mohammed Bouazizi, a frustrated unemployed Tunisian graduate committed suicide by setting himself ablaze using petrol on December 17^th, 2010, he probably didn’t know his death was a singular action that would initiate massive chains of revolution across d Arab nations of Tunisia, Egypt and Libya.
Throughout these countries, citizens mobilized themselves and occupied the streets to protest in anger, resilience, and courage, for days till they succeeded in forcing their dictator leaders out of power thus letting in a fresh wind of change.
Today, petrol sells for 141 naira/litre in Nigeria (a country richer but with a worse economy than any of d aforementioned nations).

Funny enough, our youths choose to laugh &  make stupid jokes about an issue of such magnitude; both on their mobile (blackberry) phones & online web pages (Facebook and Twitter) by circulating images and texts that only portray how cowardly, lazy and unconcerned we are about our future.

A student protesting d removal of fuel subsidy was shot stone dead today by the police in Ilorin and all we could say or do was to throw banters at the president's wife or ask for the assistance of a certain ‘apple lady’ from India. God has blessed us more than enough as a nation.

Asking for God's intervention now is not the issue @ all. Our destiny as a nation lies solely in our hands. It’s time to rise up and battle these muthaf..kers 2 a stand-still. LETS EMULATE OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN EGYPT.