Jos Plateau as a miniature Nigeria: the beast of no nation as regards #ENDSARS protest

Jos Plateau as a miniature Nigeria: the beast of no nation as regards #ENDSARS protest

Caveat: "Jos Plateau to Nigeria is the North of the South and South of the North". Luka Panpe. October 22nd, 2020.

Jos Plateau is undoubtedly the paradox of a miniature Nigeria considering it's unique geography and state of affairs. Indeed! from most of the comments that I have read in the last few days on several platforms,no commentator(s) in Jos has satisfied a balancing thought on the on-going conversation about the Protest in NIGERIA.

If the comment was PRO protest, the thought was probably interpreted as Pro-South; if ANTI Protest, it was simply Pro-North. In Jos, the two views suffice.

The bitter truth is:

"The Narrative about the Protest in Jos is like Alcohol, Moderation is often difficult".

In other words, there is a complexity in appealing to the conscience of respective fellows whose interpretation of the goal of the protest differs. To the other fellow, the ENDSars is a brutal inroads to "display of arrogance and brigandage" against one of their own in power( and they have the right to their opinions). To another, it is a precipitation to end Police brutality, corruption in the system, high cost of living, ethnocentrism, insecurity, etcetera ( again I say they are right).

Where is the balancing point?

If you juxtaposed my view about the North of the South and South of the North as stated above, then Jos Plateau becomes the balancing point.

But How Balance is Jos when within itself rebirth a notion of severed "dichotomy" between the North and the South as sometimes characterised by "indigent and settler" ductus? The difference in opinion has rather than qualify Jos as a miniature Nigeria- a centre piece for Nigerianization of thoughts- creates conflict.

Where wisdom might elude this position, there is even a much more difficulty to explain the balance in moderating between being a Governor of Plateau state and the Chairman of Northern governor's forum. For instance, if the unbalanced wisdom of utterance suits the state, it might not suit the other states and if it suits the other states, it might not suit Plateau.

I ask again, where then is the balancing point?

The caption "BEAST OF NO NATION" was taken from the album Beast of No Nation released by Fela Anikulapo Kuti in 1989 shortly after his released from prison. Specifically, the beast of no Nation exposed the decay in Nigerias' governance space including military brutality, human rights abuse, and the general state of oppression and suppression of the people by political actors.

Moreso, On October 16th 2015, a 2hrs: 17mins America-Ghanaian war drama film was released. The film which was written, co-produced and directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga focuses on brutality of our African system and leadership vis- a-vis the brutal response of the "rebellious". As a beast of no Nation, Nigerias'unbalanced statusquo with regards to agreeing on a singular position at this critical point in her history is not unconnected to it's denial to restructure itself beyond it's current "Nationless" status.

The balancing point, is thus an appreciation of the genuine concerns as raised by MOST citizens viz: Insecurity, banditry, brutality, poverty, hunger, unemployment, bad health and educational facilities, kidnapping, bad roads, high cost of food items, marginalization, Almajiri plights and the plights of the girl-child, land grabbing, injustice, Plights of IDPs, etcetera.

However, the genuineness of every issue being raised by either pro or anti protest must have a direction.

1. What and what are required?

2.How and How are they to be addressed?

3. Who and who should be responsible?

4. When and when should this and that be addressed?

If all of these are not measured on the goals of HUMANITY, they would all fall flat on the ground of self denial. Hence, Due process demands respect for procedures; for opinions; for expressions; for dialogue; and above all ACTION to address the concerns.

In conclusion, everyone might be asking for too much but no one is asking for the Goal of life. And the goal of every life as Sigmund Freud puts it, is "DEATH..

God bless Nigeria and Let's not Give up on Her.

Luka Panpe wrote from Jos.